Feb. 16, 2025

Background:

• An adulterer is someone that is involved with a sexual relationship outside of their marriage
• God compares his relationship with the church like a marriage
• God wants a church without a spot or wrinkle (Revelation 19:7-8)
• Christ is telling us to be pure...and not to serve other gods or idols
• God must be first
• Anything that comes before God becomes an idol
• God will tare down idols
• We serve a God that is holy and without any limitations

Key Sermon Points:

1. To the church where the letter was sent

• The letter was sent to Thyatira
• It was the largest letter sent to a small town
• False doctrine is not allowed even under the banner of love and unity
• We cannot compromise God's Word
• The influence of these last churches (except Philadelphia) allow evil to rise
• When evil has a foothold, then evil will grow

2. The description of the Son of man

• The reference to Jesus as the Son of man draws attention to his humanity when he was walking on the earth
• The Son of God refers to his deity and his judgment
• The words are the words of Jesus (v. 18)
• Jesus' eyes are compared to a flame of fire...everything yields and melts before his presence
• Christ can see what we cannot see (i.e. the heart and the motives)
• Christ presents himself as the One that sees all and searches the mind and heart
• The Lord's feet are pictured as fine brass that looks like gold...a symbol of God's judgment
• Christ is a righteous judge

3. The Lord commended them

• The Lord points out the good things as well as the bad things
• Christ commends the church by voicing his concerns about them and he assures them that he has not forgotten their righteous deeds
• Sometimes we forgot, but God never forgets
• The church at Ephesus didn't have love, but this church has love...but also false doctrine
• Sound doctrine is everything...without sound doctrine, we don't have anything
• The 1st of the 7 churches to be commended for their love
• They were also commended for their faith, reliability, and consistency
• We need to be dependable and reliable
• Christ commended them on their works, love, service, faith, and patience

4. The issue Jesus had with the church

• We all have issues
• They allowed a Jezebel to come in to the church to preach...teach and seduce
• Jezebel had a false doctrine and seduced most of the members, but God had a remnant
• She had over 800 prophets and a cult and killed a lot of God's prophets
• She was wicked
• Jesus was upset that they let this type of thing go on

5. Jesus is giving them time to repent

• God is a merciful God that gives people time to repent
• Jezebel didn't repent and neither did some of the members
• Jesus will cut off those that don't repent and wipe the slate clean
• People love darkness rather than light
• Her final refusal to repent led to judgment
• Jezebel, the church, and her spiritual children were all judged
• Christ will deal with us when we don't deal with people that are messing with the doctrine

6. Christ encouraged them to hold on

• Christ encouraged the remnant to hold on (v. 25)
• Hold fast when:
  • It seems like there is no hope
  • Your enemies are coming for you
  • You are broke
  • It seems like you can't make it
• For those that overcome, Jesus will give them power and himself
• Let those that have ears, hear
• Encouragement can be powerful words that can help us along our journey