(Robert Leroe, SC.com) President Calvin Coolidge went to church, and afterwards was asked by a friend what the minister spoke on. “He preached on sin.” The friend asked what the preacher had to say about sin, and was told, “He’s against it.”
Yes, I’m going to preach about sin today. And yes, I’m against it.
Today’s sin is perhaps the most subtle and yet the most dangerous sin of all.
Today is our 4th message on the Letters to the Churches in Revelation. (Turn there).
Ephesus – Don’t lose your first love. Smyrna – Don’t give up.
Pergamum – Don’t compromise your faith. Thyatira – Don’t tolerate sin.
Prayer
I. THE CITY
Thyatira was a small city between Pergamum and Laodicea in modern Turkey.
Militarily, it wasn’t capable of any prolonged defense.
It was a speed bump for the capital of Pergamum to give them time to prepare for battle.
Thus, the city had a history of regular destruction and rebuilding.
Since it wasn’t a military or political city, its importance was found in its industry.
•It was a blue collar town; color dyeing, garment-making, pottery and brass-working.
Lydia, the ‘seller of purple’ whom Paul met at Philippi (Acts 16:14), was probably the overseas agent of a Thyatiran manufacturer.
Christians were often forced to compromise in order to make a living there.
It was fine if you were a liberal, but very difficult if you were a conservative (cf. America).
II. THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
18THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD, WHOSE EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE AND WHOSE FEET ARE LIKE BURNISHED BRONZE.
This is the only time Jesus reveals Himself as "the Son of God” in Rev..
This church is in trouble, so He speaks to them in His most powerful capacity.
Illus. Have you ever gotten “the look” from your parents/spouse?
•The one that says, “Boy are you in trouble.” That’s the look Jesus gives here.
His feet of burnished bronze is very relevant to a city renowned for its brass-works.
It’s a picture of God’s judgment and wrath.
Rev. 19:11-16 I SAW HEAVEN STANDING OPEN AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A WHITE HORSE, WHOSE RIDER IS CALLED FAITHFUL AND TRUE. WITH JUSTICE HE JUDGES AND MAKES WAR. 12 HIS EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE, AND ON HIS HEAD ARE MANY CROWNS… 13 HE IS DRESSED IN A ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD, AND HIS NAME IS THE WORD OF GOD… 15 OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMES A SHARP SWORD WITH WHICH TO STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS. “HE WILL RULE THEM WITH AN IRON SCEPTER.” HE TREADS THE WINEPRESS OF THE FURY OF THE WRATH OF GOD ALMIGHTY. 16 ON HIS ROBE AND ON HIS THIGH HE HAS THIS NAME WRITTEN: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of Almighty God!
III. THE COMMENDATION
19 I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, YOUR LOVE AND FAITH, YOUR SERVICE AND PERSEVERANCE, AND THAT YOU ARE NOW DOING MORE THAN YOU DID AT FIRST.
They’re not all bad. In fact, they were growing and doing more than at first.
This is an important verse. We, too, need to be doing more now than we did at first.
IV. THE CONDEMNATION
20 NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU: YOU TOLERATE THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL…
A. Who is Jezebel?
Her name was not really Jezebel. That was simply God’s nickname for her.
The original Jezebel was a vile pagan who forced Israel to worship Baal (see 1-2 Kings).
•She was an idolater, a conniver, and a murderer.
•She was so vile that when she died, she literally went to the dogs (2 Kings 9).
•She was without a doubt the most wicked woman recorded in Scripture.
This woman in Thyatira may have claimed to be a godly leader, but God revealed her true heart. It was not a nice comparison.
B. What was her sin?
First of all, she calls herself a prophetess – not necessarily that she was one.
BY HER TEACHING SHE MISLEADS MY SERVANTS INTO SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND THE EATING OF FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS.
She deceived the believers (God’s own servants) and led them astray!
SEXUAL IMMORALITY - Any sexual act or thought occurring outside the bounds of marriage.
It could also figuratively mean practicing idolatry—spiritual immorality.
When we put anything before God, we in effect commit spiritual immorality.
This woman was teaching the believers that this sin was okay!
•She was like the Nicolaitans and Balaamites in Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17).
She professed to be a messenger of God, yet promoted a message of Satan.
She professed faith, yet promoted sin. She professed Christian liberty, yet taught license.
C. What was the church’s sin?
1. They permitted it.
20 YOU TOLERATE THAT WOMAN JEZEBEL… Tolerate – the key word to the passage.
Some of them had rejected her teaching and refused to follow her, but they also rejected God’s teaching by refusing to discipline her.
Eli’s sons in 1 Sam. 3:13 were committing despicable crimes.
God rebuked Eli "because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them".
2. They participated in it.
Some believers had actually endorsed and joined Jezebel’s cult.
BY HER TEACHING SHE MISLEADS MY SERVANTS…
“What she’s preaching sounds good. Count me in!”
Their shallow faith led to their seduction.
21 I HAVE GIVEN HER TIME TO REPENT…, BUT SHE IS UNWILLING.
God always gives us time to repent (Ninevah, Sodom/Gomorrah, Noah)
God is holy and just and a God of wrath, but He’s also merciful and loving.
V. THE CONSEQUENCES
22 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.
This “bed of suffering” could quite possibly be a reference to diseases.
•What invariably accompanies immorality? Disease.
“You play with fire; you’re going to get burned!”
That goes for any sin, not just the sin He describes here.
23 I WILL STRIKE HER (spiritual) CHILDREN (followers) 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.
God was going to make them an example to all the churches.
Corruption had crept into Christ’s Church and He could not allow it to continue!
But with all the condemnation and consequences, there is still hope.
VI. THE ENCOURAGEMENT
A. Don’t believe Satan’s lie.
24 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 ("The depths of Satan, as they call them" (NASB)) (I WILL NOT IMPOSE ANY OTHER BURDEN ON YOU) other than not tolerating her:
Jezebel’s teaching came from the depths of hell. It was Satan’s seduction/deception.
B. Believe God’s truth.
25 ONLY HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL I COME.
Don’t give up or give in. Don’t compromise God’s Word.
Don’t let society dictate your beliefs and practices.
26 TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES AND DOES MY WILL TO THE END, I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS—
•By overcoming, we will have authority to reign with Christ in His Kingdom.
27 ‘HE WILL RULE THEM WITH AN IRON SCEPTER;… “He will shepherd them with an iron staff”.
This is the promise given to the Messiah. (cf. Ps. 2:9) and believers will rule with Him.
28 I WILL ALSO GIVE HIM THE MORNING STAR.
We’re not sure what Jesus means here. Scholars differ widely.
The morning star is Venus. It’s visible just before the morning dawn.
It was a symbol of sovereignty and could symbolize conquest and rule over the nations.
In Rev. 22:16 Christ says “I am… the bright morning star.”
Perhaps the best way to understand this is to say that the overcomers will reign with Christ, The Morning Star, Who reigns supreme over all Creation.
29 HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES.
This is a stern rebuke to this church because of one key sin – the sin of toleration.
THE DANGER OF TOLERATION
1. It leads to deception.
When we tolerate sin, we begin to justify it to avoid the guilt.
•“But we really love each other.” “I’m just trying to fit in.”
•“What right does the Church have in my private affairs?”
How often do we hear this in the church?
•“We don’t want to offend anybody.” “Who are we to judge others?”
•“He’s a generous giver; we don’t want to upset him”.
•“She might leave the church”. “We might split the church”.
•“We don’t want to rock the boat”.
Dr. David Leininger says “we’re more concerned about keeping the peace than we are obeying the Prince of Peace”.
•He goes on to say, “After all, the most peaceful place in any town is the cemetery.”
When we justify and tolerate sin, we demonstrate our shallow faith.
James 4:17 ANYONE, THEN, WHO KNOWS THE GOOD HE OUGHT TO DO AND DOESN’T DO IT, SINS.
2. It leads to further depravity.
Illus. sexual immorality: first, it was prohibited, then it was tolerated, now it’s accepted, expected, promoted, and even defended.
Because of toleration of sin over the years, the church now is on perilous ground:
•We turn a blind eye to immorality, pornography, unethical business practices, gossip, lying, cheating, and all kinds of other sins.
•We disregard Biblical principles in favor of political correctness.
•As a result, church discipline becomes non-existent.
3. It brings God’s discipline.
When the Church becomes tolerant of sin, God is forced to intervene (cf. Thyatira).
God will not sit silent while His Church, His Bride continues to sin against Him.
(Billy Graham) “If God does not judge America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”
The Thyatirans were on the verge of receiving God’s wrath because they tolerated sin.
•America is also on the verge unless we repent and return to God.
4. It gives the devil a foothold.
Satan distorts the truth and makes sin reasonable and attractive and then justifiable.
When we give in to Satan’s deception, we open the door for more of his influence.
Toleration is one of Satan’s best weapons.
All the excuses we use to justify sin are in fact lies from the pit of hell.
Tolerating sin is a very dangerous and destructive thing!
THE CURE FOR TOLERATION
1. Keep short accounts with sin.
Personally and corporately - We need to regularly confess and forsake sin.
We need to put the Mt. 18 principles for correction into practice.
•If someone sins against you, confront him in love.
•If he doesn’t repent, bring 2 or 3 witnesses.
•If he still doesn’t repent, take it to the church.
•If he still doesn’t repent, remove him from fellowship.
No matter how we deal with sin, we must always deal with it in love.
•Speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Make sure to remove the plank first.
2. Be alert to the schemes of Satan.
1 Pet. 5:8 YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR.
How do bank tellers learn to recognize counterfeit money? By studying the real thing.
•The more we study the real Word, the more we can recognize the counterfeit.
…which leads us to the 3rd cure for Toleration.
3. Give attention to the Word of God. Daily hunger and thirst for His Word.
Did you know the only offensive weapon we have against Satan is the Word of God?
Eph. 6:10-18 11PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES… All of the armor listed is to defend ourselves. 17 TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
The only way we can overcome Satan’s attacks is thru the power of God and His Word.
Folks, there’s a battle out there of supernatural proportions.
•It’s the ultimate battle of good and evil. Satan’s key weapon is tolerating sin.
•And if we’re not actively fighting the good fight with the Word of God, we’re in grave danger of being taken captive by the enemy.
So let’s rock the boat, and throw overboard all those things that don’t belong.
•Let’s stop tolerating sin – in our own lives and in the life of His Church.
•Let’s not give the enemy a foothold. Instead, let’s hold forth the Word of Life.
Let’s be overcomers so we can reign with our Lord Jesus Christ, the Bright Morning Star!
The Bottom Line: Don’t Tolerate Sin.
The only way we can do this is with a close, daily walk with our Lord.
When Jesus comes for His Church, will He come with joy or with judgment?
Prayer/Confession Hymn 657 Cleanse Me (??altar open)
Sermon Outlines and Power Points are available by emailing me.
