SERMON OUTLINE:
• Greeting:
• Addressed to the angel of each church.
• Identification:
• Christ identifies Himself in relation to the church.
• Condition:
• A description of the church's spiritual state which was good.
• Problem:
• Assimilation - the process of becoming similar to something.
• Counsel:
• Solutions and advice.
• Promise:
• Rewards for overcoming.
• Closing:
• A call to heed the Spirit’s words.
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A man was once asked by a questionnaire for a national poll.
• What was his church preference,
• He smiled and replied, "Red brick."
• TRANSITION: Church of course is never a building,
• It is always a collection of people, a community of believers,
• An assembly of those who belong to and seek to follow Christ.
Ill:
• Have you ever at the seaside or in a theme park,
• Put your face above a headless frame,
• That is painted to represent a muscle man,
• Or a clown, or even a bathing beauty?
• Many of us have had our pictures taken this way,
• And the photos are humorous,
• Because the head doesn't fit the body.
• If we could picture Christ,
• As the head of DRC, would the world laugh at the misfit?
• Or would they be amazed,
• Of a human body so closely related to a divine head?
• TRANSITION:
• In these seven Churches of the book of Revelation,
• We are invited to do just that.
• To look at seven Churches with their faults and failings,
• And see how closely these bodies relate to the head.
• But this is more than a history lesson,
• Because each Church speaks into our situation and lives.
• Asking the questions, “Am we making the same mistake?”
• Or “Are we succeeding in being a good fit with the head?”
(1). Greeting: Addressed to the angel of each church (vs 18a).
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
Thyatira is the fourth of 7 churches mentioned:
• It’s worth noting that this is the longest letter,
• And yet it’s addressed to the church that was considered,
• To be the least important city of the seven.
3 things to note:
(1). Geographically.
• Thyatira was about 60 Kilometres (37.3miles),
• Southeast of Pergamum,
• Which was the city & Church you looked at last week.
• All seven of these Churches,
• Are based in modern-day Turkey.
• i.e. Ephesus (now known as Selcuk)
• i.e. Smyrna (now Izmir)
• i.e. Pergamum (now Bergama)
• i.e. Thyatira (now Akhisar)
• i.e. Sardis (now Sart)
• i.e. Philadelphia (now Alasehir)
• i.e. Laodicea (now Denizli)
There were no distinguishing features about the city of Thyatira.
• It was not situated on a harbour like Ephesus or Smyrna,
• It was not on at prominent hill like Pergamum.
• In fact, it was in the middle of a valley.
• Although it was situated away from the Mediterranean Sea.
• It was on the road,
• Which connected the cities of Pergamum and Sardis.
• It was a thriving city due to business trade.
Ill:
• It was the ‘Watford Gap’ of its day or the ‘Crewe’ of its day.
• Not so much famous for itself,
• It was somewhere you passed through,
• On the way to somewhere else.
(2). Commercially:
• Because of its location along trade routes,
• Thyatira became a prosperous commercial centre.
• Thyatira was a city full of merchants and manufacturing.
• Some of those major trades included,
• Wool, linen, leatherwork, and dyeing.
• i.e. Lydia (Acts chapter 16 verse 14),
• Was “a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,”
Note:
• Two of these trades, bronze and pottery manufacturing,
• Are mentioned (vs 27).
• “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.
• He will dash them to pieces like pottery”.
Ill:
• One of the jobs of the potter’s assistant,
• Was to smash the pottery with an iron rod.
• This was not blatant vandalism.
• He was to smash any pot that was not perfect.
• Any pot that was flawed, sub-standard.
• It was not to be traded or passed on,
• No second or outlet shops in those days!
• If it was faulty then it had to be destroyed,
• To save the name and reputation of the potter.
• That is what it means to ‘Rule with a rod of iron.’
• It means to break up everything that is not right,
• Or sub-standard.
(3). Religiously.
• Business and religion were woven together.
• Archaeological discoveries have revealed.
• That the city had a large number of trade guilds,
• Which were the early equivalent of trade-unions.
• These made Thyatira a closed shop.
• No one was allowed to practice any trade.
• Unless he or she was a member of the local guild of that trade.
Now these Guilds differed from trade unions.
• In that they were linked with the worship of pagan gods.
• Each guild had its own deity,
• And as a member of the guild,
• You were expected to attend all its functions,
• And participate in its religious activities.
Now if you believed in many gods, which was not a problem,
• But Christians & Jews only worshipped the one true God.
• And that was a problem!
• Because not being part of these guilds,
• Could virtually guarantee your business failing,
• So, the Church of Thyatira was facing great economic pressure.
• Take part in these multi-faith events and be accepted,
• Stay away from these events and be excluded.
• You could say, The Christians in Thyatira.
• Were torn between ‘a rock and a hard place’.
• On the one hand they needed to make living,
• Which meant having to be part of the guilds.
• And on the other hand,
• They needed staying faithful to Christ and his standards.
• That was their dilemma,
• The situation that Christ speaks in to.
(2). Identification: Christ identifies Himself in relation to the church (vs 18b).
“These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
In all seven letters:
• Jesus Christ always reveals himself,
• In a special way to the Church, he is addressing.
• i.e. If he was writing today, to the Church in Paris,
• He might refer to himself as a strong tower.
• (Paris of course famous for the Eifel Tower)
• i.e. If he was writing to the Church in Sydney, Australia
• He might refer to himself as a bridge connecting people to God.
• (Sydney of course is famous for the Harbour Bridge)
TRANSITION: In this description of Jesus, there are two things to note:
FIRST: “Has eyes are like a flame of fire”:
• In pottery, you need a fire to fire your clay,
• Fire is essential for transforming soft clay,
• Into a durable ceramic material.
• The images of flaming eyes,
• Also remind us that God’s eyes are penetrating,
• Seeing everything, knowing everything.
• He is aware of the circumstances of his people,
• (both Thyatira & ours!).
• And he is not unable to help!
• Christ sees everything and here his eyes are flaming,
• Meaning he sees….
• But that He is angry with what he sees.
SECOND: “And whose feet are like burnished bronze
• His feet are of polished bronze.
• Jesus has already used this description of himself,
• (chapter 1 verse 15),
• It emphasizes his purity.
• Purity because brass is pure and highly refined in the fire.
• This Church was no longer pure but defield.
• Bronze also emphasizes steadfastness,
• Brass was the strongest known metal in the ancient world,
• And feet like fine brass would be strong and unmovable.
Note:
• The image is taken straight out of the Old Testament.
• The Old Testament book of Daniel (chapter 10 verse 6).
I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
• Daniel sees a vision of a man,
• Who tells him of kings and nations,
• That would terrorise and persecute the people of God.
• But Daniel was not to fear,
• Question: Why?
• Answer: God was on his side!
• So, this description reminds the Church at Thyatira,
• To stay strong and true,
• God sees, God judges and God is on their side.
(3). Condition: Good (vs 19).
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”
• In verse 19: we are told their spiritual state was good.
• There are 4 commendations for the Church:
• (1). They were a loving church,
• (2). They were a serving church,
• (3). They were a faithful church,
• (4). They were an enthusiastic church,
• (doing more now than ever).
This Church is making progress:
• They have grown, they have developed,
• They haven’t stood still,
• In fact they are better now than ever before.
• I would imagine every Church wants to hear those words,
• You are better now than 10 years ago or 50 years ago etc.
• Sounds good, doesn’t it?
• In some ways it sounds like an ideal church.
• Makes you wonder why Jesus could have been angry with it!
(4). Problem: Assimilation - the process of becoming similar to something: (vs 20-23).
“Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 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. 23 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.”
FIRST: Problem of a false teacher (vs 20a):
“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray.”
• In concentrating on love, fellowship and service,
• They had neglected their teaching.
• And as a result, they were misguided doctrinally.
• There was a woman who was calling herself a prophet,
• And who was misleading the people.
• The actual name of this false teacher isn’t mentioned.
• Instead, Jesus gives her the symbolic title "Jezebel",
Ill:
• In 1848 Dr. John Geddie,
• Went to the South Pacific island of Aneityum (An-i-ti-um).
• And for the next 24 years,
• He lived and worked there as a missionary for God.
• On the monument erected to his memory,
• Are these words.
• “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.
• When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.”
• TRANSITION:
• Sadly, in Thyatira the opposite is happening:
• A prophet was having the opposite effect.
• Instead of helping she was hindering.
• This one person was like the bad apple,
• That would case all the other apples to go rotten if left alone.
SECOND: Problem of a false teaching (vs 20):
Ill:
• A bucket with a small hole in the bottom.
• Gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over.
• This woman was slowly draining the fellowship of truth,
• And refilling it with error.
Three things are mentioned in verse 20,
• That show to us why she was a false prophet,
• And what false doctrine she had introduced to this Church.
• #1: She is encouraging them to worship idols,
• #2: She is encouraging them to eat food offered to idols,
• #3: She is encouraging them to commit sexual sin.”
• This false prophet is telling the Church of God,
• To behave like the unbelievers that they work with.
• She was teaching,
• That it was alright to be part of the trade guilds,
• And take part in their religious practices.
• This message would appeal to the struggling Christians,
• Because it solved their problems at work.
• And meant they could make a good financial living.
But Jesus is not impressed, he tells the Church straight:
• This false prophet is wrong,
• And her teaching is wrong.
• And he calls her, ‘Jezebel’.
Ill:
• Now Jezabel was not the woman’s real name,
• It is a metaphor, a symbolic name.
• e.g. You might call someone, “A star.”
• e.g. You might call someone, “A saint.”
• Question: Who was Jezebel.
• Answer:
• Jezebel was a queen of Israel,
• At the time Elijah was a prophet (1 Kings).
• She was a wicked woman.
• She was the pagan daughter of a pagan king.
• And had no business being married to Ahab,
• The King of Israel.
• When she became queen,
• She turned first the heart of her husband Ahab,
• To the worship the false god called Baal.
• She then turned the hearts of the nation of Israel,
• To also worship Baal.
Her first official act, as recorded in the Bible:
• Was to kill the prophets of the Lord.
• (1 Kings chapter 17 verse 4).
• She did away with God’s spiritual leaders,
• And replaced them with the prophets of Baal.
TRANSITION: 3 similarities between the Jezebel of Old Testament times and the prophetess in Thyatira?
• SIMILARITY NO 1:
• Both tried to replace God’s authoritative word,
• With a poor substitute.
• SIMILARITY NO 2:
• Both were given opportunity to repent.
• But they did not take it.
• SIMILARITY NO 3:
• Both bring death (1 Kings chapter 22 verses 23-24),
• Jezabel brought death to herself and others.
• This Jezabel also brings death (vs 22-23),
• The prophetess is condemned to sickness,
• Some interpret this as leading to death.
• And her spiritual children,
• Those who grew up following her false doctrine.
• Are spiritually dead because they were following a false gospel.
• Serious stuff, isn’t it?
• It reminds me of a little ditty ...
“A sailor on duty got frantic.
when he fell into the briny Atlantic
After hours in the sea,
He was saved Yes-sirree.
And was hoisted aboard the Titanic!”
• TRANSITION:
• It is no good getting saved by a ship that is bound to sink.
• And it is no good following teachers,
• Whose doctrines are false.
• That is why you and I must stick to the book.
• This is always our authority for what we believe.
Quote: Campbell Morgan:
“The Christian does not believe it because it says, ‘it is written!’
The Christian believes it because it says, ‘it is written and again it is written’”.
• We need to handle this word correctly, systematically,
• And to read verses in their context.
• ill: Remember: “A text without a context, is a con!”
(5). Counsel: Solutions and advice (vs 25).
“…except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
Ill:
• Many professional athletes have their trademarks,
• When it comes to celebrating their wins.
• e.g. Cristiano Ronaldo does what is called the "Siuuu".
• e.g. Tiger Woods has his legendary fist pump.
• e.g. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt,
• Has his signature "lightning bolt" pose.
• Once in a while, athletes celebrate prematurely,
• This can be very costly.
• There is the famous case of cyclist Luka Pibernik,
• Who sprinted to the finish line,
• Raised his arms in triumph.
• But…unfortunately,
• The race was not over, and another lap remained.
• And after a gruelling 3.5 hours of cycling,
• Pibernik's reserves were empty,
• And slipped from 1st place to 148th.
• TRANSITION:
• Jesus says top this Church, finish well,
• Hang on to the sound teaching you had,
• Before this false prophetess came along.
(6). Promise: Rewards for overcoming (vs 26-27).
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron sceptre and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star...”
• To the over-comer,
• To those who don’t get misled by false teaching
• God promises two things:
(1). He will give authority over the nations.
• Jesus says that he will give authority over the nations.
• This may well refer to the fact that one day,
• God’s people will live & reign with Christ on earth.
• In what’s called the ‘millennium’;
• That is a ‘thousand-year reign of Christ on earth’.
• Which we read about in Revelation chapter 20.
(2). He will give them the Morning Star.
• A morning star appears just before dawn,
• It appears when the night is darkest,
• It is the precursor to the new day.
Note:
• In Revelation chapter 22 verse 16,
• Jesus Christ himself is called ‘The Morning Star’.
• So, John the apostle tells his readers,
• Who are oppressed by the darkness of this world.
• To look for Jesus!
• Jesus offered them a reward greater than the kingdom.
• He offered them the reward of Himself,
• Because He is the Morning Star
(7). Closing: A call to heed the Spirit’s words (vs 29).
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This is a letter that applies to everyone.
• It applies to those who are like Jezebel,
• Who led others into sin.
• Repent and change!
• It applies to those who follow the teaching of a Jezebel,
• Repent and go back to the good teaching,
• That you had before the false.
• Finally, it applies to the faithful who must hold fast.
• Not to compromise with the world,
• But stay pure!
Ill:
• An African Proverb on Doublemindedness
• "The man who tries to walk two roads will split his pants."
• TRANSITION:
• Choose your path well!
Punchline: Don’t compromise.
Ill:
• For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
• For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
• For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
• For want of the rider, the battle was lost;
• For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost,
• And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/iOrhMsuL6fA
