today we continue series entitled: “things are not as they seem.” revelation wants to help us...

Today we continue series entitled:

“Things are not as they seem.”

Revelation wants to help us see reality in light of an unseen future and a present

reality seen only with the eyes of faith.

This series is based largely on Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Jealous Lover

Thyatira Thyatira

Scripture Reading

Revelation 2:18-29

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem Jealous Lover

Thyatira Thyatira

Before we dig into God’s Word, I think that we do well to think

about what it means to be in love.


Thyatira Thyatira

You are in love.You express that love to your

beloved.You want to spend the rest of

your life with this person.You enter into a committed

relationship.

It’s awesome!!!!


Thyatira Thyatira

You share your live and love.You would be willing to die for

your beloved.That is God’s desire for marriage.

Experience that feeling.


Thyatira Thyatira

Now your beloved comes to you and says,

“I still love you but I am going to have a intimate relationship with

another person.”

Now how do you feel?


Thyatira Thyatira

Anger? Jealousy?

But your beloved say to you,

“Why are you upset? My living with and loving that

person does not impact my living with and loving you.”


Thyatira Thyatira

Once you have that feeling in place,

you can understand Jesus’ message to the church in

Thyatira.


Thyatira Thyatira

Jesus again begins with a description of himself, which we

will look at later.

He then compliments this church like no other:


Thyatira Thyatira

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and

perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at

first.” v.19

This was a active and growing church.


Thyatira Thyatira

But Jesus adds:“Nevertheless, I have this

against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself

a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into

sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” v.20


Thyatira Thyatira

Was there a woman in the Thyatira church with the name

Jezebel?

My guess is that Paul is referring to the Old Testament story we

read in I Kings 16


Thyatira Thyatira

Jezebel was a Baal worshipper who married King Ahab.

She got king Ahab to set up an altar to Baal.

It began by saying that one could worship Baal and Jahweh the

God of Israel.


Thyatira Thyatira

But she knew that they were fundamentally opposed as she

later tried to eradicate the worship of Jahweh.

Ex. 20:3:“You shall have no other gods

before me.”


Thyatira Thyatira

So in Thyatira there was a woman who saw herself as a

prophetess who was teaching the people

that it was ok to serve God and attend feasts that included

sacrifices to other gods.


Thyatira Thyatira

The city of Thyatira was a manufacturing town.

- All sorts of trade guilds- held common meals together and these included sacrifices to their patron god, Thyimnus or Apollo.- Often led to drunkeness and immorality


Thyatira Thyatira

Could followers of Christ be part of these trade guilds?

Could they in clear conscience participate in these meals?

If they were not part of the trade guilds they would loose business

and money.


Thyatira Thyatira

This woman was teaching that they could be a Christian and still

attend these feasts.

She was teaching when it come to serving God

that it is not “either/or” but “both/and.”


Thyatira Thyatira

Jesus reminds his church, his bride,

that when it comes to being in relationship with God

it is an “either God or . . .” not a “God and . . .”


Thyatira Thyatira

Exodus 20:3-6"You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in

the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship

them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth

generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations}

of those who love me and keep my commandments.


Thyatira Thyatira

Jesus makes it very plain that this “God and . . .” “spiritual adultery

leads to spiritual sickness and eventually,

to spiritual death.”

Johnson, p.90


Thyatira Thyatira

When we see ourselves as Christ sees us,

as his bride, we begin to see how the

“God/Christ and …” approach

is offensive & hurtful to God.


Thyatira Thyatira

Where are we doing the “God and . . .” compromise?

Where in your life have you lost the “either God or . . .” and have

opted for a “God and . . .” position?


Thyatira Thyatira

Wait a minute. Does this mean that all

compromise is bad or that as Christians we can not

work together with non-Christians?

No.


Thyatira Thyatira

I heard of a church that split because they could not find a

compromise on the colour for the carpet in the new sanctuary.

To my mind that was not an ultimate “either/or” matter.


Thyatira Thyatira

I hesitate to bring that up because of our tendency to be blind to those areas where we

are taking a “God and . . .” stand.

I can be a Christian and get drunk every weekend.

I can be a follower of Christ and make shady business deals.


Thyatira Thyatira

I am a Christian and I can sleep around.

I am a Christian and I can freely tear down others with gossip.

I am a follower of Jesus and I can spend my life on acquiring

money.


Thyatira Thyatira

We often do what psychologist call “compartmentalization.”

We divide up our lives into compartments, allowing Jesus to be Lord only over some of them. Sunday compartment & the rest

of the week compartment.


Thyatira Thyatira

Private vs Public compartments

So for many Jesus is Lord over their devotional life; Sunday

going to church life; maybe their family values, but when it comes

to stepping out into the “real world” that is off limits to

Christ’s claim as Lord.


Thyatira Thyatira

In the Freed-Up Financial Living class that has just begun we were reminded again of two

truths


Thyatira Thyatira

Ps. 24:1 “The earth is the LORD's, and

everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;”

Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”


Thyatira Thyatira

What area of your life are you not surrendering to the Lordship

of Jesus?

Where are you trying to do the “God and . . .” compromise?


Thyatira Thyatira

How can we stay true to our Saviour and Lord who loves us?

Story of business man tempted by a “hospitality girl.”

He pulled out a picture of his wife and said, “I belong to her.”


Thyatira Thyatira

What is the picture of our lover?

1. The Son of God [2:18] - not Apollo or Caesar - he has the authority of all - we answer to him


Thyatira Thyatira

2. “eyes like a flame of fire” [2:18]

- terrifies and comforts - exposes the darkest corners - exposes to cleanse us


Thyatira Thyatira

3. “feet are like burnished bronze” [2:18]

- feet that a pure and strong - ready to trample evil - ready to run after us


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4.“I gave her time to repent” [2:21]

- he gives us time to repent - his awaits our response - but he will not wait forever


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5. “I will give to each according to their deeds.” [2:23]

- Jesus respects our choices - choose whom you will serve and live with the consequences. - “Our true allegiance is revealed in how we treat members of our families, how we treat employees and fellow workers, how we spend our time, and how we spend our money.” Johnson, p.94


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6. One who makes incredible promises:Remain loyal to me and - you will reign with me. [2:26-27]

- “I will give you the morning star.” [2:28] - Jesus is the “bright Morning Star” [22:26] - Jesus gives himself to us in our darkest hour.


Thyatira Thyatira

Can you look into the face of the one who loves you like no other,

can you look into the face of Jesus who loved you so much he died for

you and say, “Yes God, I love you too,

but I want to keep this other lover

on the side.”?


Thyatira Thyatira

Let us Pray!


Thyatira Thyatira

today we continue series entitled: “things are not as they seem.” revelation wants to help us...

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