The Church of Thyatira - 10

I want to read from Revelation chapter 2 Revelation chapter 2 beginning at verse 18 consider the longest letter of the seven churches written directly to the church of Tyra Tyra and again he who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches and to the angel of the church and Tyra Tyra right 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 sick bed, 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 into the rest in thyroid. Tyra is meant as many as do not have this doctrine, who 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 nation, he shall rule them with a rod of iron, they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels and 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 again of the seven churches addressed herein. Chapters 2 and three of the Revelation, the church of fire. Tyra was located in the least known, least important and least remarkable of the cities fire a Tyra was to Ephesus, that great city of Asia minor fire attire was to Asia minor. What flat Creek, Tennessee, is to Los Angeles, California. If you can get the comparison. The gist of what I'm saying. It seems that the only claim to fame the Tyra Tyra had was that it was a prosperous manufacturing and marketing center. It was known for the art of dying that is the why he ING Lydia the seller of purple was from this city. Acts chapter 16 verse 14. Tell us now a certain woman named Lydia heard us.

She was a seller of purple from the city of fiber Tyra, who worship God, the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul know these were the only churches that existed in Asia minor in that day so why was fire a Tyra included in this selection of churches made up of the seven the Christ addressed and we have recorded in the Scriptures.

Why did Christ write to such a rather small church in such an obscure place. Well, again, we don't have is his answer to that question, but I'd like to suggest that perhaps a couple reasons. One is to encourage all believers who live and minister in small towns and out-of-the-way places you'd be surprised to know that the average church legitimate church across America has an average attendance of 60 to 70 people significance significantly smaller than our church. It's interesting when people call and inquire about our church and they can check us out on the Internet, learn something about our history and our doctrine. No say something like will is your church a large church or small church as it depends depends on your point of reference mega church would look at us and sell your small church but an average size church in America 60 to 70 would look at us and say way that's a large so depends on your point of reference, but it would seem that the church of fire attire that we don't have any number associated with it. It's not not a church in a city with a dense population so probably was a love of a smaller variety church in an Obscure Pl. in Ottaway place, but so many Christians live in cities and places like that in the 10 churches like that.

So here's a word for that type of church and I think the other reason is to warn about the consequences of tolerating a Jezebel who is the focus of Christ's complaint to this church of fire attire. So tonight were going to follow a similar pattern we observe that each one of these letters begins with a description of a portion of the description that is recorded and asked in Revelation chapter 1 of the vision that was given to John on the island of Patmos. He had this incredible vision of Christ and its recorded force in chapter 1 in each one of those letters borrows from that vision words that are apt and appropriate for that particular church. So what's borrowed from that portion in regard to the church of fire attire is what's recorded in verse 18.

These things says the son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass. That's the opening words we have this opening address that's followed by words of commendation. In verse 19 I will read them again will look at them as we move through the outline, but this opening address. Then, words of commendation.

In verse 19, followed by a complaint or words of condemnation in verses 20 through 21, followed by words of correction in verses 22 to 23, followed by words of consolation in verses 24 and 28 and then the letter closes in a typical fashion with those familiar words recorded in verse 29 he who has an ear to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. So that's our approach tonight, so let's begin with this address. Christ is writing to the church and he describes himself in this twofold manner in verse 18 he who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass. What are we to make of that.

Well eyes that are like a flame of fire signifies his piercing is penetrating is perfect knowledge that he has this complete and thorough regarding anyone and everything he and only he searches the minds and the hearts of all men and his church is under his scrupulous case he is searching his church. He and only he searches the minds and hearts of all men. Christ is the one and the only one who's able to see through the seductive arguments of Jezebel and those who were being led astray by her pernicious teaching. I remind you of Hebrews chapter 4 verses 12 and 13 when we quote verse 12 we should always add verse 13 verse 12 says for the word of God is what it is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart 12 or 13.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of him with. We have such is his perfect knowledge.

His searing gait gaze and that's what John is recorded, force here, his eyes like a flame of fire. His feet like fine brass reference thereto feet of brass speaks of his right's authority in his power to judge less the opening address followed by words of commendation.

In verse 19.

I know your works. Love, service, faith, and your patience so here is a category. Know your works. In order for things mentioned what others, what again are those four things they are love, service, faith and patience. And as for your works again back to the big statement and as to as for your works.

In the last are more than the first fire Tyra was a church with a reputation number one for Lovett stands out.

I know your works, and the first thing mentioned is love. Their love and it's a good thing. All the commandments are summed up in these to love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength in your neighbor as yourself. Love mom first Corinthians 13. If you have all these things but don't have love you have nothing by this all men will know that you are my disciples, by your love one for another soul. Love very very commendable thing the church was noted for trepidation at a reputation for love and devotion. They were ministry involved. They were patient with people notice that in verse 19.

Love your service, they were busy they were busy and service to Christ within the church without the church their faith in the fact that their faith is commanded tells me that the object of their faith was correct. Faith was not in a person up. Faith was not in process or program. Their faith was directed correctly there commended for that and your patience. Patience is a good thing.

Hard to know where to draw the line with people sometimes were to be forbearing were to be patient with people.

Christ is patient with us, but there comes a point where if we do not act and were just continually extending grace and being patient. We become enablers of peoples sin and fault, so it would seem that the church is commended for its patience and that's a good thing. I know your works, love, service, faith in your patience. And as for your works. The last are more than the first.

That's an interesting way of basically marking progress.

These things were present at the beginning, but you been growing in these things you been growing in love you been growing in service been growing in devotion you been growing in patients so here's a busy church with much activity in warm church and they were growing in grace and in these fruit in these fruits to see what was going on in the church of fire attire for which they receive Christ's words of commendation it. I find it helpful to contrast this church fire attire with the church at Ephesus.

Remember the church of Ephesus, the church of Ephesus had left its first love.

As we looked at that. It was hard to determine whether that was they had left their love.

They had left their love for Christ are they left their love for one another. Probably was. Not either/or but probably both. But remember in Ephesus. Their hearts were cold. What was true about them was a cold dead intellectual orthodoxy that had set in better doctrine right, but the was the absence of love they had faded from they had left. Love in fire Tyra again. Love is mentioned first because again it probably was the most apparent.

The most prominent quality of the church, but it was something amiss fire attire was a church overflowing with real warm spiritual love congregation was spiritually growing, increasing in their love in their faith in their service and in their patients but all is not well with the church. Notice verse 20. Nevertheless I have a few things against you.

So here are words of common not commendation but but condemnation. Christ registers his complaint against his church. 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. Anything sacrificed to idols. Christ identifies the source of the church's trouble is a self proclaimed prophetess named Jezebel. Now, several identifications have been proposed for Jezebel. Some commentators have suggested that she was he ready for this. She was the wife of the church is practiced sable, where did that come from well since the Greek word for woman in verse 20 can also mean wife verse 20.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman or that wife Jezebel. So that's where the propose that bit of an outline or but again, some commentators suggest that others have claimed that Jezebel was Lydia the woman of act 16, who was converted under Paul's ministry. I'm not sure how they get that, but that's again I read that in a commentary. Others suggest that Jezebel is not a real person. She is a metaphorical reference of can to heathen and pagan standards and practices well that has I think some merit, but I think the more natural interpretation of the passage is that Jezebel was a real woman in the church at thyroid Tyra who claimed for herself the gift of prophecy. Now it's feasible that the woman's name was not really Jezebel but only referred to as such by Christ to expose her sinful, wicked character to metaphor all you Jezebel or that was a Judas will when someone says that they mean betrayer betrayed so there's this association your member Jezebel of the Old Testament. She was the Canaanite wife of Israel's King Ahab and she led Ahab away from worshiping Jehovah to serve false Canaanite gods of bail and was through the deception and her intimidation that she got her husband to spread her my daughter idolatrous teaching throughout Israel.

We just have make one reference here. First Kings chapter 16. This is in reference to that time and Israel's history came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him.

That is Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of knee that that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter FF involved King of the site. No onions, and he went and served bail and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for bail in the temple of bail which he had built in Samaria, and Ahab made a wooden image Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him so his alliance with this wicked woman and is succumbing to her seduction arouse the anger of Almighty God. So this woman Jezebel if she was really named Jezebel or she was a woman like Jezebel in character and if we were to think that way what is the character of the Jezebel well number one cleverly deceptive number two manipulative lady dominant. Number three viciously scheming number four influential only wicked. That's the spirit of Jezebel the character of Jezebel.

But when we read there in Revelation chapter 2 about her named, 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, you know, we don't have to be guilty of adultery to be guilty of spiritual adultery would have to be guilty of physical sexual immorality to be guilty of adultery. Listen to what James says in James chapter 4 verse four verse four says adulterers and adulteresses, do you do not know that friendship with the world is M the T with God.

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God we had in our bulletin this morning. Printed these verses.

First John 215 to 17 do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world and the world is passing away in the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. So there was the influence Jezebel influence in the church that had weakened the church had seduced the church had produced worldliness in the church to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols and we read that and we wonder how is that possible in a church that is commended for its love for its services. Faith and his patience in a church. It was growing in those areas well, sin is seductive. Sin is subtle. Your some of the things that you might hear in a church like fire attire.

Again, I'm just trying to get my mind around how this would be possible. Again, remember this church was exemplary and in slow, what might you hear a church like that judge not lest you be judged. He who is without sin cast the first stone church discipline. Why, that's the most unloving thing I ever heard of why we would never do anything like that. Those are the kinds of things that are being entertained. I think in the minds of people who have so manifested love to a fault. Well, just be patient with people takes time. Christ is impatient here. He's he is. He's angry with this church. He's finding fault with this church so price condemns this church of Christ does not address Jezebel but he's critical of the church for allowing her to continue to teach, and seduced you see that he speaking to the church.

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.

She was given a platform she was given a position of influence in this damage doesn't happen overnight. Yes it's subtle. Yes, it creeps and little by little, but they were tolerant of it. She had been quite successful under the lack of discernment under the permissiveness of the church she had gained a following notice that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent of her sexual morality 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, her children, she gained the following wasn't just heard the church. It tolerated this and she had made great inroads in the church and how does Christ describe this teaching that the church was so tolerant of notice how he describes it in verse 24 now to you I say into the rest in fire attire 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 the depths of Satan will that's not some obscure characterization its hellish this from the depths of Satan.

That's why he hates it so so what can we learn here can we learn number one no amount of love and loving sacrificial work can compensate for the tolerance of evil.

They were exemplary in their love.

They were growing and loving, yet they were tolerant of evil in their midst. No amount of loving and sacrificial work can compensate for the tolerance of evil. They were so loving and so tolerant and unwilling to hold this member. This self-proclaimed prophetess to an objective standard of righteousness and holiness.

Remember, the Ephesian church, Ephesian church, which had left its first love was faithful to judge false teachers and their false doctrine. They were faithful to do that while the people in the assembly at Tyra Tyra were growing in their love. They were tolerant of hellish false teachers and their doctor. Think about the two contrasts. There Ephesian church had left its first love and was faithful to judge false teachers and their false doctrine. While the people in the assembly at Tyra Tyra were growing in their love but tolerant of hellish false teachers and their doctor. Lesson number two unloving orthodoxy and loving compromise are both hateful to go but unloving orthodoxy and loving compromise or both hateful to God. We are people of extreme.

Yes, we need to be sound and orthodoxy.

Yes, we need to have our theology right, but not devoid of love were not to be so loving that were not committed to orthodoxy and some teaching lacking in discernment.

We need both of those things.

Here are some lessons concerning repentance.

Notice what he says in verse 21.

I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent indeed I will cast her into a sick bed, 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. Some lessons concerning repentance God number one commands repentance is calling the church to repentance.

Number two God proceeds judgment with a call to repentance is a warning here do this or else I'm going to come in judge to God commands repentance God proceeds judgment with a call to repentance. God gives them time to repent. What a gracious God. Verse 21 and I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality and she did not repent.

I wonder who I might be speaking to tonight that God would be saying that very thing to you. You hearing those words, the spirit of God is directed those words to you and that is become very personal. You are trafficking and you are playing in sexual sin and God is saying to you.

I'm giving you time, I'm giving you time to repent God's patience comes to an end. Don't presume upon the grace of God. Why do I say that because if you noticed, we haven't looked at all seven churches here, but the Nick Galatians, God hates the deeds of the Nick Galatians, God hates the teachings of the Nick Galatians and what was that licentiousness, sexual immorality, looseness in morality, and here it is again sexual immorality. This is not just to these seven churches, but this is for the church of all the all ages inappropriate for all time.

The world has come into the church.

There are more things available. More things to tamp to the I gate perhaps than ever before. And again I don't have the gaze of Almighty God. But Shirley there is sexual immorality in our midst, and God is no respecter of persons. If he hated it here in Tyra Tyra.

He hates it, if it's present here at beacon Baptist Church. He hates if it's present in your life and he's giving you time to repent here this morning, flee youthful lusts, repent of your sins because repentance is the only way to avoid God's judgment and when judgment does fall in the face of un-repentance. God is just in the destruction of the unrepentant no one can fall God. Here is a warning. These are strong words 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 each one of you according to your works now to you I say into the rest in Tyra Tyra so now there's a shift in the in the address. This doesn't characterize the entire church.

There is a run that in the church that is faithful to the Lord that hasn't been seduced, that hasn't compromised and he has something to say to that remnant to notice the words of consolation beginning at verse 24 now to you I say and to the rest in fire attire as many as do not have this doctrine.

You don't have this document seduced by this doctrine. You have imbibed this who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say.

I will put on you no other burden. I will put on you no other burden. Now if you are a part of the church and you're not guilty participant in that which is bringing judgment. It's still a burden because you're part of the church. You don't want to see your brother and sister and immorality.

You don't want to see them flaunting that you want to see them bringing judgment upon himself. It's a burden, it should be a burden is not put any other burden on you.

Not everyone in the assembly was unfaithful to the Lord. He says I will put on you no other burden except what except obedience to his word, a put on you no other burden but hold fast. Verse 25. What you have, hold fast over fast to what hold fast to sound doctrine hold fast in your resistance of evil and temptation hold fast to what you hold fast to what you have till I come to like him as a reference to his second coming, at which time he will reward them for their faithfulness.

Notice what he says there in verse 26 and he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end. To him I will give power over the nations to he to him who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 2413 he who endures to the end shall be saved. The proof of genuine faith is steadfastness and continuance in the will of God until Christ returns, or until death comes. That's how we prove the genuineness of our faith, persevering to the end we must continue with the Lord. Unfortunately there's too much emphasis placed on the front end of a person's profession and not enough emphasis in our day. On the backend.

What I mean by that too much emphasis on the front end of ever made a profession of faith you arrest Jesus to save you ever walked and Oliver raised a hand ever be double your say don't ever tell anybody talk you out of that.

Don't ever doubt that too much emphasis on the front and not enough emphasis on the backend on the bank and are you are you. I don't care about the past. Right now I'm talking about are you right now trusting, resting in the work of Jesus Christ and his alone for your eternal hope and salvation. Are you is there evidence of that right now is there fruit in your life were not asked. I don't think the church is asking that those kinds of questions enough to much emphasis on the front end. Not enough emphasis on the backend. These are words of consolation to the church. Christ makes two promises to these overcomes number one authority over the nations he 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 vessel in some way I can't describe and explain to you but we are promised to reign with Christ in that day. Amazing that he would allow his participation in that but the second thing he says and I will give him the morning star.

Verse 28. I will give him the morning star. The gift of the MorningStar who is that what is that, well, it's a who is Christ himself.

He's the MorningStar faith will give way to cite. We shall behold him, we shall be like him.

Christ, our treasure, he will be given to us.

I will give him the MorningStar. What a promise.

What a promise from Almighty God, to those who are over comers and then again the words he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

So what's the challenge for the challenges this let's be steadfast. Let's be unmovable, abounding in the things the Lord, knowing that our work is not in vain in the Lord. Let's grow in love. Let's grow in faith. Let's grow in patients but not at the expense of sound doctrine. We need our love needs to be anchored in the objective truth of the word of God, the Scriptures must define what that love is and what that love looks like.

And sometimes love is hard love tough love to speak the truth in love, those things are married together. There speak the truth in love must be aware we live and were living in the dark days. Air is subtle, the adversary is active so like Ephesus, we can be zealous and Orthodox and theologically correct, but at the same time lose our devotion to Christ must not be like that. Or like fire attire, our love can be increasing yet lacking in the kind of discernment that is necessary to keep the church pure and holy, so as I've studied this portion of God's word on them. I'm amazed. In one sense that so little attention is given to this portion of God's word in a day when there such confusion in the church with the church should be first problem I think is that were we see people are near as concerned about what is pleasing to the Lord were only interested in what is expedient, what is produces a certain product were catering to a consumer mentality in the church instead of coming back and saying okay the church is not ours doesn't belong to ask for it. Christ is the head of the churchy died for his church if he died for his church is concerned for his church. Let's get the mind of Christ for his church. Let's see what he commands.

Let's see what he condemns in.

Let's avoid those things and let's get busy with the things that he commands. But I don't see I don't see I don't see any books on the market.

Church growth books that are saying you know let's let's study the seven letters to the church to the churches of Revelation is get the mind of Christ what he deems honorable in his church.

Let's avoid the things that he hates and condemns.

That seems awfully logical to me but there's another very little emphasis on so I think there's real help force want to be a church that honors Christ grows and the graces grows in the knowledge of Christ avoids the sins that would compromise our effectiveness that would diminish our purity and our holiness that would bring judgment upon us.

We want to avoid noticing we don't want to be like the world want to be different in the world and it's a fight. While I know it's a fight because it's a fight in your life in any any serious minded Christian knows that the were in a war were in battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. And every day. We must put on the armor of God, we must be ready to serve Christ into avoid those snares and temptations that are subtle and aimed to bring harm to us in our testimony.

Thank you for your interest tonight in the word of God, thank you for gathering with me. Let us pray and I will pronounce the benediction father, thank you for your word. It is searching. It is piercing.

Thank you that it is designed to correct reproof, instruct in righteousness, Holy Spirit of God, take your word and do that for us in those areas that we have compromise those areas where we have been seduced those areas where we have left let up our guard. Help us to fortify and strengthen and be steadfast now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to God our Savior, or who alone is wise, glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever