Thyatira - The Polluted Church Pt. 2
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Introduction
Introduction
Let’s finish what we started this morning looking at Thyatira, the polluted church…I got down through verse 22 as we looked at The Master Described, The Message Dispensed, and the Mandate Declared...
Let’s hop right back in and finish looking at...
The Mandate Declared
The Mandate Declared
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Jesus said, “I will cast her into a bed.” This means that He would put her flat on her back with sickness and suffering. He would not only judge her but also all that followed her teachings. He included “them that commit adultery with her.”
He said, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts” (v. 23b). The reins refer to the feelings and the heart to the thoughts. Jesus knew all there was to know and He knew the hypocrisy of that woman Jezebel.
She deceived others but Jesus knew her completely. He knew everything she felt and thought. He would bring her to judgment and when He acted in judgment, the world would know that He cannot tolerate evil.
God’s people ought not to tolerate what He cannot tolerate. Only those who divorced themselves from that woman Jezebel and her devilish doctrines would be delivered from the wrath to come.
I closed this morning with the mandate that God declared for this church was repentance!
God is calling for churches today to repent of sexual immorality and of sinful tolerance. Those who commit adultery not only refer to physical adultery, but also spiritual adultery.
Those in the church in sin are called to repent of their deeds. The deeds of the church had polluted the church. The church was called first of all to repent of their sins.
Instead of being a light for Jesus they were allowing lawlessness.
Instead of being the salt of the earth they were allowing sin.
Instead of making a difference they were allowing deception.
23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
The Lord Jesus says that if they do not repent of their sins, “I will kill her children with death,” To “kill her children with death” means to kill them with pestilence. This word is an idiom denoting sure death by execution. This is part of the sentence on Jezebel and her followers! The children referred to in verse 23 refer to the spiritual children of those who have followed the false doctrine and became disciples of Jezebel instead of disciples of Jesus.
Adrian Rogers said, “Wicked and ungodly teachers reproduce themselves. They go from door to door; house to house; from church to church, committing spiritual fornication and spiritual adultery and the result of that spiritual adultery and spiritual fornication is spiritual children of the devil.”
The Lord tells this church that He would use them as an example to teach other churches what happens when truth is compromised. The church in Thyatira had been established to bring the word of God to a pagan city. They had functioned well for a while; then they had abandoned the right path. They are going to pay a heavy price for their sin.
The Lord will not tolerate sin in the church when it is allowed to flourish. 1 Pet. 4:17 reminds us that judgment must begin at the house of God. In other words, when there is sin in the camp, the Lord will deal with it. He will remove His presence, His power and His touch off the wayward congregation. He will write Ichabod over the door and watch us dwindle away to nothing. That is the price for compromise.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
There were many faithful, uncompromising Christians in Thyatira. To them, Jesus simply said, “hold fast.” They must not stop doing what is good. They must not become distracted or discouraged from what Jesus wants them to be and to do.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Jesus also told them how long to hold fast: till I come. We are to hang in there and stand strong for Jesus until He comes. It is only then that the battle will be over.
The certainty of Jesus’ coming ought to inspire us to hold on to what we have! Lehman Strauss wrote, “This might seem to be a small thing, but in the midst of infidelity it means much to Him. He reminds the true children of His Kingdom that He is coming.”
Are we remaining true to the Savior? Do we hold fast to that form of doctrine that the Lord has taught us? Have we repented of our sins? We may feel like throwing in the towel—we may feel like we are fighting a losing battle—we may feel like we are climbing an impossible hill—we may feel like turning back and giving up and giving in! The Lord Jesus tells us to hold fast what you have till He comes!
We see the Mandate Declared, last today, let’s look at:
The Mission Delivered
The Mission Delivered
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The believers in Thyatira are promised authority over the nations, which probably refers to the fact that God’s people will live and reign with Christ.
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
When the Lord sets up His kingdom on earth, it will be a righteous kingdom with perfect justice. He will rule with a rod of iron.
8 Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Rebellious men will be like clay pots, easily broken to pieces!
He came the first time as the Lamb of God—He’s coming the second time as the Lion of Judah.
He came the first time in meekness—He’s coming the second time in majesty!
He came the first time as a servant—He’s coming again as the Sovereign!
He came the first time to a tree—He’s coming again to the Throne!
He came the first time to redeem man—He’s coming again to rule man!
Notice, next:
28 And I will give him the morning star.
The Lord Jesus will give us a great reward for all eternity. Morning star: is the star that shines the brightest just before the darkness is over.
Rod Mattoon said, “The morning star was the caboose on the night train and the trumpeter of the dawn, shining brightly at the end of the night and at the beginning of the day.”
He promises the faithful remnant in Thyatira that He would give them Himself. The Lord Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star!
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
The Lord Jesus promises us that we will have complete and total access to Him for all eternity.
Praise God! Jesus is all that we ever need! If we have Jesus, we have everything!
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
The morning star was the first thing to arrest the eye in the morning. It is a reminder that Christ should be the first thing to grab the attention of our heart each day.
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
No nation can claim the morning star for itself. It is looked upon by all. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the entire world.
The letter closes as the others have:
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This is a letter that applies to everyone. It applies to those who are like Jezebel, who lead others into sin. It applies to those who follow the teaching of a Jezebel, and follow others into sin. It applies to those who permit a Jezebel to work her wickedness. Finally, it applies to the faithful who must hold fast.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God is calling for folks inside the church to repent before folks on the outside can repent! Are we a true and genuine New Testament church?
Are we compromising with false doctrine?
God wants all of us every day and we must surrender our lives to Him!
Are we decaying from within or are you growing and becoming more like the Son of God?
The Lord Jesus made some strong announcements to this church two-thousand years ago, what would He say about His church today?