The Fruitful Church

Revelation: All Things New  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 207 views

Theme: Jesus celebrates churches that bear good fruit. Purpose: That we grow in fruitfulness and discernment of fruit. Gospel: The Holy Spirit empowers with fruitfulness Mission: We are called to be like Jesus and do what Jesus did.

Notes
Transcript
Revelation 2:18–29 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 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. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 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. 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. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Introduction: We live in a world of celebrity leaders. We now have a phrase for someone who is on social media that gains a strong following. They are called influencers. The Church has both. - Individual who went to New Hope, left New Hope to go to the big exciting church in town. That church merged with a large global church as one of their sites. That Global church has a lot of celebrity pastors who many have fallen from their high perch - an affair, financial impropriety, etc. As far as I can tell, he no longer goes to that church, because he can’t trust the leadership. How can an influencer in the Church empower the church to its greatest impact in the world, and how can an influencer bring a church down?

19-Jesus celebrates a fruitful church.

Fire Eyes: Fire often mean judgement throughout scripture. It also the means of purification. So these are penatrating eyes. Jesus see all things as they are and judges them accurately.
The Feet of bronze remind us of how pure Jesus is, like polished bronze that has all of its impurities removed from it.
The Fruit of the Spirit - Growing in Character
This is a church that is bringing the Truth and Love together.
Reminds me of the Fruit of the Spirit - Jesus is basically praising them for their strong connection with Him so that his character is being formed in them.
Love is Growing, and the Faith is Growing. This is a Spiritually dynamic church.
The Fruit of Mission - Growing in Competence
Their works are increasing exponentially.
Works, and service tied to love, and Faith is tied to patient endurance.
Direct result - People serve others when they love them, and when they love Jesus. They serve each other, and the community around them.
Patient Endurance - This last year?????? - Do we Trust in all of the Hardships that Jesus still has this.
20-Application Point: Jesus wants us to bear good fruit.
We do this by abiding in him.

21-Jesus prunes bad fruit.

Matthew 7:15–20 NIV
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Play Bean Boozeled.
Tell the Story of Jezebel. - Married King Ahab of Israel, Influenced him to be a Baal worshipper, Personally went on a campaign to kill all of the prophets of Israel (but some went in hiding). After Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal and had them all killed, Jezebel went after him to kill him. - Synonymous with Evil.
Women in Leadership?
The issue is not so much the problem - but rather her teaching.
Societal Pressure of being a part of the guilds - Fee’s description of the guilds.
Revelation: A New Covenant Commentary To the Church in Thyatira (2:18–29)

By the time of John, however, it had become a town of trades and crafts, especially well known for its purple dye industry and its fine bronze. Significant for understanding the present letter is the fact that all such trades had guilds, which were very close-knit clubs—a kind of local union—that served as the primary social structure for the artisans and their families. Each of these guilds had their patron deities, and the primary social events among the guilds were the festive meals, where food was served in a context where it had been sacrificed to the patron deity. Very often these meals became an occasion for sexual immorality to flourish, where “girls” were made available at the male-only meals.

Lydia of Thyatira
Acts 16:14 LEB
And a certain woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, a merchant dealing in purple cloth who showed reverence for God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was being said by Paul.
So like the nicolaitans, but less revolving around Emperor/Empire worship, but likely to not be kicked out of the Guilds and Economic ruin.
Also, Possibly an early form of Gnosticism - Based on Secret Knowledge for salvation, by fee. - “The Deep things of Satan.”
"Thy Kingdom Come" materials on spotting false prophets.
False prophets:
Seeks his own gain
Speaks his own dreams
Will not Submit
Those who disagree are wrong
Great sin in their life, pride, or other denegrating sin
Unyielding and outspoken
Reactionary and vicious when exposed
Often has veneer of false humility
Seeks out the immature sheep and befriends them
Clever and “Slick”
Avoids truly mature leaders.
Qualifications for Leaders in Timothy, etc....
Titus:1-5-6

5 On account of this, I left you behind in Crete, in order that what remains may be set in order and you may appoint elders in every town, as I ordered you. 6 If anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not ⌊accused of dissipation⌋ or rebellious. 7 For it is necessary for the overseer to be blameless as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, prudent, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast to the faithful message according to the teaching, in order that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to reprove those who speak against it.

22 - Application Point: The Church is called to discern the fruit of leaders. - Laying on of hands
Two calls - Internal and External.
Jesus gave this woman many chances, How, “Probably through mature prophets.” - Don’t throw the Baby out with the Bathwater.
We can trust that Jesus will humble false leaders/prophets, when they don’t listen to the Church. Because Jesus sees the heart at its core.

23 - Good Fruit Influences the World for Good.

Lady visiting New Hope, who gave me a prophetic message of encouragement for our church. She was humble, she insisted that we check it from scripture and was willing to humble herself if it was not scriptural, and she was offering it for us to do with it what the Lord wanted, she was not insistent.
The significance of this citation lies with the fact that this psalm (Chapter 2:8 specifically), placed at the beginning of the Davidic psalter, was understood by early Christians to find its fulfillment in Christ (see, e.g., Acts 13:33 and Matt 3:17). Thus the implication of the promise is that these believers would be participating with Christ in the final judgment of the nations (see Luke 22:28–30 and 1 Corinthians 6:2; cf. also Rev. 12:5). It is this reality that lies behind the addition, just as I have received authority from my Father, which again in its own way reflects a Christian understanding of Psalm 2.
But that is not all. Christ will also give them the morning star. Here is yet another obscure image for those of us reading the document at a much later time. The term first occurs in an especially obscure passage in Isaiah 14:12, where it most likely refers to the fallen king of Babylon, and thus has a negative referent. But the present usage is altogether positive, and in 22:16 below Christ himself is called “the bright Morning Star.” Thus perhaps what John understood this to mean was that the victors will be given eschatological glory, which they will share with Christ himself. Or perhaps this is a somewhat obtuse way of indicating that they will receive Christ himself (= be eternally in his presence) as the ultimate prize of their victory. - Gordon Fee
24 - Application Points:
Jesus’ presence in our lives produces good fruit.
We can Trust Jesus’ promise that those who remain in Him will reign with Him.
As a Result Jesus Promises his presence as our ultimate price for remaining in Him.
Conclusion:
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more