February 7, 2010 Pastor Scott Snowden
On the one hand, … but on the other…
A Progress Report from Jesus…
#5. To the angel of the church in Thyatira write…
Revelation 2:18-29
The church in Thyatira, on the surface, is a dynamic, growing congregation. They have avoided the issues that plagued the first three churches Jesus has addressed. However, He knows that all is not well. Under the surface, there is a cancer growing in their midst, that Jesus diagnoses and prepares to remedy. He identifies a group of believers who are stubborn about confessing and repenting of their sin. He who has an ear, let him hear…
1) I say…
“These are the words of the Son of God,
whose eyes are like blazing fire
and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
Revelation 2:18
- The Son of God- not the Son of Man, as in the earlier vision. Jesus is rebuking the vain and arrogant claims of Caesar.
- Eyes like fire- His all-seeing gaze looks beyond appearances and exposes the hidden sins and attitudes of the believers.
- Feet like burnished (polished) bronze- His feet are swift to judge sin and disobedience.
2) I know…
“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance,
and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”
Revelation 2:19
- The believers have not forsaken their love for Him, for each other, or for the lost.
- The believers have remained faithful to Him and the cause of the Gospel.
- The believers are _TIRELESSLY_ ministering and blessing one another and their community.
- All this has led to growth and an expanded influence.
- By all appearances, this congregation is healthy, vibrant & growing. Jesus has much praise for them.
3) I see this…
“Nevertheless, I have this against you:
You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess.”
Revelation 2:20-25
- Be _AWARE_ of the spirit of “Jezebel.”
- a _REBELLION_ against godly leadership and _REJECTION_ of sound teaching.
“You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess…”
Revelation 2:20
- Anyone who seeks to undermine or usurp
God’s appointed leadership is to be confronted and corrected.
- a sense of entitlement and the “ _RIGHT_” to be indulgent.
By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality…
Revelation 2:20
- Beware of Scripture being distorted, diminished or ignored
to approve of sexual immorality, greed, violence and prejudice.
- Ethical/spiritual _COMPROMISE_ for the sake of economic gain.
By her teaching she misleads My servants into
… the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Revelation 2:20
- “Eating food sacrificed to idols” refers to the rites and practices
associated with the various trade guilds and their patron gods.
To work or sell in Thyatira required membership in the guilds,
and membership in the guilds brought the need to
“go along to get along.”
- Take _ADVANTAGE_ of God’s offer of forgiveness and grace.
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Revelation 2:21
- with godly leadership and sound teaching comes the conviction of the _HOLY_SPIRIT_.
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart
and said to Peter and the other disciples, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37
- with the conviction of the Spirit comes the call to _REPENT_.
Peter replied, “Repent…”
Acts 2:38
- with the call to repent comes the restoring _GRACE_ of God.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…
Titus 2:11, 12
- And thereby _AVOID_ the inevitable consequences of unrepentant sin.
“… but she was unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering…
Revelation 2:21-23
- Continuous, unrepentant sin exposes a rejection of grace, not a deeper _UNDERSTANDING_ of it.
What shall we say, then?
Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!
Romans 6:1-2
- Grace is _FREE_, but it is not _CHEAP_.
- All human behavior is subject to the law of _CAUSE_ and _EFFECT_.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7
- God’s patience will eventually _RUN_OUT_, leaving us to suffer natural consequences of habitual sin.
How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished
who has trampled the Son of God underfoot,
who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant
that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:29, 31
- Jesus’ harshest words are directed
to the _WILLFULLY_ unrepentant.
4) I promise…
“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 2:26-29
- As one of the faithful & repentant, I will share in His _ETERNAL_DOMINION_.
- As one of the faithful & repentant, I will share in His _RISEN_GLORY_.
|
