The Church Of Thyatira (The Compromising Church)

Again I would like to turn your attention to the seven churches of Revelation to learn from them as a church how we can please the Lord.

These seven churches were established after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When the Christians saw the Lord died on the cross, all their hopes and dreams were destroyed, but when He arose from the grave it sent waves of excitement through Christians around the world.

If you will notice, the churches all started off good, but we see spiritual erosion in most of them over a period of time.

The church of Thyatira was no exception.

As Jesus spoke to this church, He paid her three compliments.

His Word lets us know that...

(1) This church was a glowing church.

In verse 19 we see these words, “I know thy works..."

The church of Thyatira started out being full of good works.

The people had that GLOW about them that made it apparent that they loved the Lord and wanted to do something for Him.

They could not do enough for Him.

For example,

Illus: It is a wonderful thing when a man meets a young lady, and falls so madly in love with her that he works for her the rest of his life.

If he worked for anyone else like that, he would charge them, but he is willing to work for her just to please her.

Why?

Because he loves her!

The church of Thyatira loved the Lord. The people were willing to work for the Lord.

It was a GLOWING church, but also...

2. It was a going church.

We read these words in the middle of verse 19, “I know thy...charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works..."

They did not just sit home and play scrabble, they were active in serving the Lord.

They found those who needed help, and went from place to place helping them.

They were a GOING church.

Also...

3. It was a growing church. In the last part of verse 19, we read, “...and the last to be more than the first."

Anytime you find believers who are excited about the Lord Jesus, they will want to share that joy with others which produces a GROWING church.

But, as time went along, like many good churches, the church of Thyatira began to compromise.

Satan knew about all of the exciting churches mentioned here in Revelation that were started after the resurrection.

He wasted no time getting his foot in the doors of these churches.

He knew then, and he knows now, that godly churches, where people are on fire for the Lord, can do his cause irreparable damage.

So he got God's church to compromise the TRUTH for ERROR.

We live in a world today where compromise has become a way of life FOR MANY CHURCHES.

For example...

Illus: These compromising churches remind me many politicians who feel they have been sent to Washington to compromise their core values.

They feel if they can compromise, then they get part of what they want, and the opposition gets part of what they want, and that is better than nothing at all.

What ever happened to the politicians who took a stand for the truth and stood up for their convictions - win or lose, they STOOD!

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Anyone can compromise, but not everyone can STAND!

The church of Thyatira compromised with the ungodly people around them.

Let us look more closely at this church that compromised.

Look at...

I. THE SOURCE.

In verse 20, we read, "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest (allow) that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to TEACH and to SEDUCE my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

The source of the problem was a wicked woman in the church.

The Bible refers to her as Jezebel, because she was so much like the Old Testament Jezebel, who was one of the vilest women who ever lived.

She even set up the worship of Baal, and led God's people away from Him.

• The Old Testament Jezebel combined the altar of Jehovah with the altar of Baal.

• Today’s church is doing all they can to combine TRUE WORSHIP WITH FALSE WORSHIP.

For example…

(1)Do away with the old Hymns that talks about the blood of the Lord Jesus and replace it with some of this jitter-bug music.

• Do away with the JOY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and replace it with this night club dancing

• Do away with GODLY LIVING and profess to be saved and still live in sin.