Thyatira, The Unrepentant Church

Message by Dr. David Drake

rec0313-102332

Thyatira, The Unrepentant Church

Revelation 2:18-29

 

Introduction:

Out of His seven letters, the letter to the Church at Thyatira was not only the longest letter in its text (a total of 12 verses in our English Bible), but it portrays the longest recorded period within the Church Age (AD 600 through AD 1500), as well as the longest time frame of false indoctrination that the church had to endure.  The bright spot of this place known as Thyatira was that it was the home of a woman known as Lydia (Acts 16:13-15).

 

I. The Writer to the Church…vs. 18

Revelation 2:18 (NASB)
18  “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:

1. He is the Judge.

2. He is the Purifier.

 

II. The Works of the Church…vs. 19

Revelation 2:19 (NASB)
19  ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

1. They had love.

2. They had service.

3. They had faith.

4. They had patience.

5. They had works.

 

III. The Worship Within the Church…vs. 20

Revelation 2:20 (NASB)
20  ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

1. Notice their worship leadership.

2. Notice their worship language.


IV. The Warning Given to the Church…vs. 21

Revelation 2:21 (NASB)
21  ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.

“Repent or else!”

 

 7 Marks Of Godly Sorrow (Repentance)

1. Earnestness to do right

2. Eagerness to clear oneself through apology / forgiveness

3. Indignation against sin

4. Fear (reverential) of God

5. Intense desire to see right accomplished

6. Zeal to correct what’s wrong

7. Readiness to see that wrongdoing be punished

 

V. The Reward Obtained by the Church…vs. 25-28

Revelation 2:25-28 (NASB)
25  ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
26  ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
27  AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;
28  and I will give him the morning star.

1. Power to live…vs. 25-26.

2. Authority to lead…vs. 27.

3. Presence of love…vs. 28.

 

ILLUSTRATION…Luke 15 reveals a parable from the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ concerning three lost items. Beginning in verse eleven, the final story reveals a lost son. This is a great picture of a father’s love and a son’s drifting away from the father’s presence. The bigger picture of this story concerns the spirit of repentance. When we as rebellious children truly come to the Father with a spirit of true repentance, there will be at least these three actions involved:

1. There will be the father’s involvement.

2. There will be the humbling of a proud heart.

3. There will be the rejoicing of a family.

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