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.
Another thing in discerning deception in doctrine is recognizing the subtlety of deception. Deception does not always come in the form of blatant heresy. More often, it comes in the form of half-truths, distortions of Scripture, and teachings that appeal to our fleshly desires. The church in Thyatira was deceived because they tolerated teachings that seemed good on the surface but were contrary to God's Word.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Here is more on discerning deception in doctrine, the need for vigilance. We cannot afford to be complacent in our pursuit of truth. We must be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who examined the Scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was true. We must be willing to test every teaching against the standard of God's Word, and to reject any teaching that does not align with it. This is where bible study comes in, whether your own studies or the church bible studies, you need to know the word of God so that you do not fall for people telling you anything and everything.
The discerning deception in doctrine is the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth, as given to us in John 16:13.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
John 16:13
As we read and study God's Word, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to illuminate our understanding and to guide us in discerning truth from deception. Discerning deception in doctrine is a crucial aspect of our walk with Christ. It requires us to be grounded in God's Word, to recognize the subtlety of deception, to be vigilant in our pursuit of truth, and to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance. As we grow in our ability to discern deception in doctrine, we will be better equipped to stand firm in our faith and to lead others in the way of truth.
Dangers of Sexual Immorality
As we continue to reflect on the message of Revelation 2:18-29, we are confronted with the stark reality of the dangers of sexual immorality. This is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament laws to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. It is a subject that is as relevant today as it was in the first century. And you are seeing it today, the many pastors and church leaders who have been caught in sexually immoral acts: adultery, sex with minors, sex with prostitutes, and sexual activities with church members.
We need to understand that sexual immorality is not just a matter of individual behavior. It is a societal issue, a cultural issue, and a spiritual issue. It is something that affects the whole community of believers. In the church in Thyatira, it was not just one person who was leading others astray, but a woman who claimed to be a prophet. She was using her position of influence to spread her false teachings and to lead others into sin.
This is a sobering reminder that we need to be on guard against those who would use their position or influence to lead us astray. We need to be discerning, to test everything against the Word of God, and to hold fast to what is good. And I must say, a lot of times it takes some good common sense.
We also need to understand that sexual immorality is not just a matter of physical actions. It is a matter of the heart. Jesus made this clear in his Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 5:27-28
This means that we need to guard not just our actions, but our thoughts and desires as well. Some of you may be thinking to yourself, “I just looked at a person who I thought was good looking, am I guilty of adultery?” Well let me clear your mind and spirit. What Jesus means is, if you are a married person or in a committed relationship, if you look at another person with lust, and start thinking of ways to make your thoughts come to pass with that individual…you have already committed adultery. The mere looking at a person and thinking they are beautiful is not what Jesus is speaking of, but the look with intent is what He is speaking of.
We need to cultivate the purity of heart that is reflected in our actions. We need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).
We need to understand that sexual immorality is not just a matter of personal consequences. It is a matter of eternal consequences. In the letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus warns that those who do not repent of their immorality will suffer intensely. He also warns that he will repay each person according to their deeds. The greater your sexual immorality the greater your punishment.
This should be a sobering reminder that our actions have consequences, not just in this life, but in the life to come. We need to live in the light of eternity, knowing that we will give an account of our lives to the One who is the judge of all.
In the original Greek, the word for sexual immorality is "porneia," from which we get our English word "pornography." This word is used throughout the New Testament to refer to various forms of sexual sin. For example, in 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul writes, "Flee from sexual immorality (porneia). All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."
In Ephesians 5:3, Paul writes, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality (porneia), or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people." In these passages, and others like them, we see that sexual immorality is something that God takes very seriously, and that we should too.
We need to understand that sexual immorality is not just a matter of individual responsibility. It is a matter of corporate responsibility. In the letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus rebukes the whole church for tolerating the woman who was leading others into sin. He calls for the church to repent, not just as individuals, but as a community. And that is mainly because the pastor of the church is allowing it.
This is a reminder that we are not just responsible for our own actions, but for the health and holiness of the whole body of Christ. We need to hold each other accountable, to encourage each other, and to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
A final thing we need to understand is that sexual immorality is not just a matter of avoiding sin. It is a matter of pursuing righteousness. In the letter to the church in Thyatira, Jesus commends those who have not followed the false teachings and have held on to what they have until he comes.
This is a reminder that our goal is not just to avoid sin, but to pursue righteousness. We are called to be holy, as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). We are called to live lives that are pleasing to God, that reflect his character, and that bring glory to his name.
Defending Against False Teachings
As we continue to navigate the waters of the letter to the church in Thyatira, we find ourselves face to face with the necessity of Defending Against False Teachings. This is a task that requires vigilance, discernment, and a firm grounding in the truth of God's Word. It's not enough to simply know what we believe; we must also understand why we believe it and be able to articulate it to others.
Defending against false teachings is to recognize them for what they are. This can be challenging, as false teachings often come disguised as truth, wrapped in appealing packaging. They may even contain elements of truth, which can make them even more deceptive. But as followers of Christ, we are called to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 John 4:1). This means examining what we hear and read considering Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit for discernment, and seeking the counsel of wise and godly mentors.
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul urges us to "no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming" (Ephesians 4:14). Instead, we are to "speak the truth in love," growing up in every way into Christ, who is the head of the body, the church (Ephesians 4:15). This growth involves not only increasing in knowledge, but also in wisdom and discernment.
The respected Christian writer C.S. Lewis once said, "Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered." In the same way, we must be well-versed in sound doctrine, not only for our own edification, but also to counteract false teachings. This is not a task for the faint of heart, but it is a task for which we have been equipped by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13).
Another step in defending against false teachings is to respond to them appropriately. This doesn't mean engaging in heated debates or launching personal attacks, but rather speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). It means being "prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15), and doing so with gentleness and respect. This means that you can agree to disagree and walk away. Jesus never got into arguments or debates with people, He just calmly explained the biblical truth, and if they accepted, then blessed were they. Otherwise, He would leave them to themselves, which as followers of Jesus, we should do as well.
This is not just a matter of winning arguments, but of winning hearts. As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Defending against false teachings is a crucial part of our calling as followers of Christ. It requires us to be vigilant, discerning, and grounded in the truth of God's Word. It requires us to recognize false teachings for what they are and to respond to them appropriately. And above all, it requires us to rely on the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth, to guide us and empower us in this task.
So let us take up this challenge with courage and conviction, knowing that we do not stand alone, but are upheld by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit. Let us be diligent in our study of God's Word, seeking to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and discernment. And let us be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have, speaking the truth in love and with respect. For in doing so, we not only defend the faith, but we also glorify God and point others to the truth of the gospel.
Conclusion
As we close today, let's remember that God's love for us is steadfast and unchanging. Even when we stumble, even when we fall short, His grace is there to pick us up, dust us off, and set us back on the right path. He is a God of second chances, a God of mercy, a God of love. And He is calling each of us to a deeper relationship with Him, a relationship marked by faithfulness, purity, and a love for His truth.
Let's not be swayed by the false teachings of this world, but let's hold fast to the truth of God's Word. Let's strive to live lives that are pleasing to Him, lives that reflect His love and goodness to the world around us. And let's remember that we are not alone on this journey. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, the Word of God to instruct us, and the body of Christ to support us.
