TRUTH FROM REVELATION #5

By Pastor George Lehman

To make mistakes and do wrong is human…

but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you’re overdoing it.    

At some point you need to grow up and mature. You can’t keep messing up and keep asking God to forgive you.

Why do you think God allowed the message of the 7 churches to be read and studied by us?

Revelation 1:3 – says there in lies a great blessing to those who would heed and obey - and keep yourself true to it.

God is asking us His church, to mirror image ourselves.

The Word is the mirror – so what of the Word do you see as you look at your image?

The conduct of our lives is the true mirror of our doctrine.

If you really live out what you believe – That is your conduct, people will see Jesus.  The question is: Do people want to serve the Jesus you mirror?

Jesus says, watch your life.  There is always a reward but a stern warning too.

1st church – Ephesus: - They left their first love

A:  So busy with the things of God but no real love for “God of the things”

B:  A people who loved compromise, i.e. “accepting less than what the standard calls for”.

He wants to be Lord of all – if He’s not “Lord of all, He is not Lord at all”.

2nd church – Smyrna:

A:  Jesus said we will be persecuted when we live Godly, upright lives

(2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) – In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.)

B:  They were challenged to faithfulness :– loyalty, trustworthy, consistent, steadfast.

3rd church – Pergamum:

2 warnings given – both serious:

A:  Choosing the lifestyle of Balaam.  Knowing what God requires from your life – but you willfully do your own thing.

Setting a bad example of the character of Jesus wherever you go.

B:  Nicolaitans lifestyle – people allowing compromise into their lives. Living double standards.You say you know ME but your lifestyle says something else.

4th church – Sardis:

This was a complacent (self-tevredenheid) church – ‘kan nie worry nie’.  Excessive satisfaction with themselves yet drifted from God.A reputation of being alive but spiritually dead.

5th church – Philadelphia:

An effective, Jesus loving, soul winning, focused on the vision – a church with open doors.

6th church – Laodicea (The end time church)

Bottom line – Luke-warm church, no enthusiasm, no zeal, no commitment i.e. would people want to serve the same Jesus you serve.Revelation 3:20

Which brings us to our final church: Church Thyatira:

Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV) - 18 “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. 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. (Acknowledged their growth)

20 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. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 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. (It’s those who allow this spirit and attitude to operate in their lives.)

23 I will strike her children dead (stop the generation carrying on with this spirit). 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.

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, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron sceptre and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Start with verse 29 – amazing what people chose to hear:

Judge in the divorce court says, Mr X, I have reviewed this case carefully and I have decided to give your wife R700 a week. That’s very fair your honor, the husband says, and every now and then I’ll try send her a few bucks myself.Blond calling the airline for info – asks the lady how long a flight takes from Jhb to Cpt – the lady says, “Just a minute”. The blond says, “oh, thank you” and puts the phone down.

What have you been hearing?  Has it made you listen and heed?

Hearing should lead to action.

Hear – with our earsListen with our intellect – soulTake it to heart to action – heed the word, you know when you’ve heard because you begin to change and Do.

Verse 18 – Son of God is the highest authority in the universe.  It’s the most exalted title given to Jesus.  He is saying, I AM the judge and I know and see ALL things.

Verse 19 – Do you realize God is recording your growth level?  He has increase on His mind.

John 15:1-8 (Fruit) to – abundant fruit

John 10:10 (Life) to – abundant life

Rom 8:37 (Victory) to – greater victory (we are more than conquerors)

The focus is on MORE.

More increase – baby to teenager to adult.  Hebrews 5:12 – going from milk to solid food.

We still have many Adults walking around with nappies.

Jesus reminds us: Matthew 25:18 – “5-2-1 talent”. Notice our talents need to grow.

1 Timothy 4:15 – Practice and cultivate (ontwikkel) and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them, so that your progress may be seen by everybody.

Rev 2:20-25 – One of the key dangers within the church.

God does not take this spirit lightly:

Jezebel is first mentioned in the bible as King Ahab’s wife

Jezebel translated means without ‘co-habitation’ (to live together) Amos 3:3: Do two walk together except they make an appointment and have agreed?Will not do it God’s biblical way unless she can control and dominate.

1 Kings 19:14-18 This one spirit was almost totally responsible for corrupting an entire nation (7 000 remained faithfully)1900 years ago in the church of Thyatira the Holy Spirit exposes this spirit – with a serious warning. And it still has its seat in the church today.As opposed to the Nicolaitans and Balaam, which is clear and obvious, this spirit comes very much disguised, because it’s a well meaning Christian person – who has allowed themselves to be manipulated by this Jezebel spirit. It’s really an un-repented attitude of the heart.

The attack comes from within the church – it’s not from without.  We expect attacks from outside.

Here are the characteristics of the spirit of Jezebel:

Many times this spirit manifests in older Christians. Your level of commitment drops.  Appearing at all the functions aren’t important any more.Un-teachable – You have far too many opinions which override God’s word.Self-exaltation – which is a source of compromise – you accept less than the standard calls for – setting double standards.Unwilling to repent – doesn’t feel it necessary.Change is not important – they believe they are OK.Stubbornness – only wanting your own way – God forbid those who get in your way. You don’t really care how you treat people.Not submissive – independent.Very ambitious – to control and to dominate.It brings consistent discouragement and criticism.This spirit operates through insecurities, jealousy and pride.Happiness comes only from getting its own way – it depends on being acknowledged, recognized, praised and being on top of others.

Verse 26-28 (note verse 28 “I will also give that one the morning star”

Revelation 22:16 – I am the radiant and brilliant morning star.

The truth is – Jesus is the morning star.  I give myself, Jesus says, that those who hold fast to my way and truth will be found by me.

You cannot defeat the enemy simply with prayer – to topple satan’s  empire we must be transformed into Christ’s likeness.

Victory begins with the name of Jesus on our lips.  It is not complete until the nature of Jesus is in our hearts.

What we become in Christ, as His people, must be the exact opposite of the spirit of Jezebel.

Un-teachable - teachable

Unchanged - willing to change.

Stubborn - meek, gentle

Rebellious - submissive

Prideful - humble

Ambitious - servant

It is who Christ Jesus becomes in you, that gives us the victory to be over comers.

Close:

Revelation 2:25 – Only hold fast to what you have until I come.

Philippians 3:16 – Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.