Pastor Roger's Manuscript for June 30, 2024

In 1780, Major John Andre’ was captured while attempting to serve as a British spy in league with Benedict Arnold. His goal was to produce a strategic debacle on the Hudson River at West Point.

By all accounts. Andrew was a model British Officer who was captured after trying to broker a deal with Benedict Arnold. As you know Benedict Arnold was a turncoat…and he was trying to help the British advance.

When Major Andre’ was captured, George Washington ordered his execution. But it was Alexander Hamilton, and other members of the cabinet who were advocating sparing the life of Major Andre’. Hamilton declared him a man of exceptional character.

Washington dismissed the requests as sentimental, pointing out that if Andre had succeeded in his mission, it might very well have turned the tide of war.

Andre’ then requested that he be executed by being shot like an officer, versus being hanged as a spy. This request was also rejected by Washington, explaining that Andre’, regardless of his personal attractiveness, was no more and no less than a spy. He was hanged the very next day.

George Washington was a resolute man. He knew that if he gave in, and began to compromise, it would mean certain defeat for the American Revolution.

Like Washington, we need to be people resolute in our convictions and allegiance to Jesus Christ. We will see that as we dig into the letter to Thyratira in Revelation chapter 2.
Remember the little limerick I told you a few weeks ago…to help you remember the churches of Revelation.

Everyone  Sing Please Thank you Sounds Pretty Lovely
Ephesus Smyrna Pergamum Thyratira Sardis Phiiladephia Laodoceia

Today we look at Thyratira. It is in the middle of the middle. The inner three churches have the most significant charges levied against them…charges if idolatry, false teaching, and immorality. Thyratira is right in the thick of things.

Let’s read Revelation 2:18-29.
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

What do we know about Thyratira?

We don’t know a lot, but if we were to compare it to one of our cities, it would be like Pittsburgh or Detroit.

These are iron workers. They are Unionized. They are blue collar.

Craig Keener states…
“Thyatira was known for its merchants, crafts, and their guilds. Those who participated in this aspect of public economic life would risk a substantial measure of their livelihood by refusing to join trade guilds. The guild meetings, however included a common meal dedicated to the guild’s patron deity — a meal thereby off limits to more traditional Christians. Starting in this general period, aspects of the imperial cult also began to affect nearly every trade guild.”
Their guild is like our union. There was power in numbers and you often gave something up to have someone else negotiate and represent you. And participating came at a cost.
Application: One of the things that I want to point out, is that Satan is quite crafty. One of his strategies is to demand allegiance through commerce. This will culminate in the Mark of the Beast late on in the study of this book. But it’s significant to note.
And while we are on this topic, have you seen an increase in persecutions of believers in the realm of commerce?

The Masterpiece Cake Shop in Lakewood, Colorado, was fined and directed by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission to make this couple a cake. But the shop owner refused because they refused to make a wedding cake for a homosexual couple. The cake shop owner ultimately won the decision at the Supreme Court in 2018, but was later sued again by someone in 2023, because he would not make a cake celebrating her sex-change.
Don’t underestimate what you might lose because of your convictions to follow Jesus.
Satan is crafty. He will use all aspects of culture to:

• Put pressure on people.
• Force People to conform
• Lead people astray

The question we must be prepared to answer is what will we do as a result? How will we respond?

What Does Jesus Tell the Church to Do?

• Refuse to Compromise

Look at verses 19 and 20 with me.

Revelation 2:19-20
“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”

Notice the Affirmation — You are loving, serving, doing missions, you are full of faith, and you are persevering. Way to go. You are playing offense well.

But it takes offense and defense to win.

Defense protects.  Defense keeps the opponent from scoring and this is a serious matter.
So, in verse 20, we see the core accusation — You tolerate the woman Jezebel.

• Tolerate — to ___________
• She calls herself a prophetess —
• Teaching
• Seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality
• Convincing them to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Now, let’s take a moment to work through this.

First, who is Jezebel?

Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab from the Northern Kingdom of Israel, ruling from Samaria. She was the daughter of the king of Sidon, and she was evil.

Here are a few things that she did:

• She had a large number of prophets of the Lord put to death (1 Kings 18:4).
• She caused her husband to go after idols and turn away from the Lord.

1 Kings 21:25-26
“(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)”

• She also had Naboth killed so that her husband could have his vineyard. It was all a conspiracy with false accusations that lead to Naboth being stoned to death. She then had her husband take his land.
• After Elijah’s victory on Mt. Carmel over the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, she threatened to put Elijah to death.

She was a wicked First Lady of Israel.

But notice the core accusation of Elijah to Ahab.

1 Kings 18:18-19
“And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

The accusation is that you, Ahab, have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.

And notice where these prophets of Baal and Asherah eat…they eat at Jezebel’s table.

Basilisk —
Asherah —

Friends, look at what Deuteronomy 12 says of this type of worship and how God views it.

Deuteronomy 12:29-31
“When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods?—that I also may do the same.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.”

Notice what it says… “every abominable thing that the Lord hates, they have done for their gods…even child sacrifice.”

Jezebel has led Ahab away from the Lord. And Ahab has lead Israel away from the Lord.

1 Kings 18:19-21
“Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.”

Notice here Elijah’s accusation against the people.

• You are limping between two opinions…You are living in limbo.
• If the Lord is God then follow him.
• If Baal is God, then go for it!

This woman in Thyatira has influence.

• She is a leader.
• She is leading some in the church there to get into sexual immorality
• She is leading them to eat food sacrificed to idols.

It is likely that the second sin here was the entry point. You see, the Guild Meetings as noted earlier, would include a common meal dedicated to the Guild’s Patron Diety.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and he challenged them in both of these areas. In regard to food sacrificed to idols, Paul told them to abstain.

This point of compromise allowed one to be in the guild — to be a part of the union — to be one with the others and be represented.

And if this compromise became common place, then it was logical that another act of idolatry wouldn’t hurt, would it?

And what was that act of idolatry? It was sexual immorality.

Now one writer softens this a bit by stating:
“Perhaps “Jezebel” is promoting a belief that as Christians it is perfectly okay to offer sacrifices to other gods, including a guild’s god and the emperor himself. She would be doing this so Christians do not lose their ability to make money and provide for their families.”

This may be the case, but if we are being honest, it is so easy to respond to and follow the appeals of our flesh. You see, we have three enemies.

• The world systems are set against.
• Satan who is the prince of this world.
• Our flesh.

The Apostle Paul talks about crucifying and mortifying the flesh. He asks who will rescue him from this body of the flesh. And he declares that this life I live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God.

Many churches in the New Testament dealt with this. The most prominent one was in Corinth. And the accusation was that they were tolerating severe sexual immorality — A man had taken his father’s wife to be his own and the church wasn’t doing anything about it.

Paul rebukes them for allowing this man to do this and to stay in the fellowship. And here is what he says about sexual immorality, our bodies, and Jesus.

1 Corinthians 6:13b-14
“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”

The first thing that we see is that our bodies were made fur unity with Christ. And what is significant is that Jesus came and took on this flesh to purchase us fully. He was tempted in every way you and I are, yet without sin. And his body was resurrected as ours will be.

So, the first thing I want to make sure we understand is that since my body is the Lord’s I am not to defile it in sexual immorality.

Second, you may be asking, “What constitutes sexual immorality?”

• Asdf
• Asdf
• Asdf

But notice what Paul has just said in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
 
Now, notice a little further down in 1 Corinthians 6.

1 Corinthians 6:18
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”

Fundamentally, sin:

• Wreaks havoc
• Pain
• Severe disappointment
• It hurts.
• It divides.
• It destroys.

But keep reading.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
 
We are called to flee sexual immorality. And we are called to honor God with our bodies. They are the Lord’s and they belong to him.

Now, in 1 Corinthians 7 we are told how to do that within the context of marriage so that our sexual needs can be fulfilled as part of our marriage covenant.

Now, you may say, “Well, what do I do if I have sexual immorality as part of my life today?” That’s a great question.

Let’s go back to what Jesus tells the church in Thyatira.

What Does Jesus Tell the Church to Do?

• Refuse to Compromise
• Run to Repentance

 
Revelation 2:21-23
“I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”

This seems so intense, doesn’t it? Is sexual sin really that big of a deal?

Again, it is sin against the body. So yes.

Further, if it is known in the church, and not death with, it can defile the entire church.
Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Keep in mind, this opens up, “To the angel of the church of Thyatira, write…” As I told you a few weeks ago, the word angel is messenger. The Elder, or Pastor, is the messenger.
So, the message here is, “Pastor, we have a job to do…we have to deal with this, lest it work its way through the church.”

Now, what we see throughout the New Testament is that Jesus is the most gracious with those who have a story of sexual sin.

• It was a man’s world, so the stories we know are of women who have been used and abused and disposed of by the system of the world.
• But to the Woman at the Well — He told her, “I know that you are thirsty and I have living water for you.” He didn’t condemn her, but offered her something more.
• To the Woman who anointed him with perfume — and Simon the Pharisee asked him, “Do you know what kind of woman this is?” Jesus said to him, “Those who have been forgiven much, they are the ones who love much.”
• To the woman caught in adultery — First, where was the man? Why was there just a woman brought forward to be stoned?
• And it was to that crowd that Jesus said, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
• Then he said to her, “Where are your accusers…neither do I accuse you. Go and sin no more.”

In 1 Corinthians 6:11, after the list is read about who will and who won’t inherit the kingdom of God, it says…

1 Corinthians 6:11
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Do you see grace available for the sexually immoral? So many have fallen short in this area. Listen, if that is you, Jesus has grace and forgiveness for you.

Jesus was so gracious and He is still so gracious. But he is also full of truth, and He calls us out of sinful, harmful actions.

And He calls us to repent! And He calls you to Himself.

And why can Jesus call us to repentance?

Look at how he is identified at the beginning of this letter.

• He is identified as one with eyes like the flame of fire
• And his feet as burnished bronzed
• And he is the Son of God.

This harkens back to Daniel 3, where Christ is in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego…it is there it says he appeared as a “Son of God.”

This harkens back to Daniel 10 as well.  Listen to Daniel 10.

Daniel 10:5-6
“I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.”

Jesus has the right to call us to repentance for our sexual immorality, as well as the rest of our sin, because of who He is — the King of kings and Lord of lords.

But more than that, Jesus. Wants you free:

• Free from the pain
• Free from the brokenness
• Free from the lies
• Free from the devastation
• Free from the heartache

So, when we repent, we:

• Agree with God and what He has said is right and wrong.
• Turn from the sin and turn to God and ask God for forgiveness and His grace.
• Seek to go and sin no more.

Now, you may be here and you have a sexual addiction hidden. People would be floored if they knew of your addiction to pornography. And it is eating away at your and it is causing your great distress.

We want to help you. In the App Notes, I have placed a resource at the bottom of my message for those who are struggling with and battling sexual addiction. This ministry is run by a friend of mine and his bride. It is called: There’s Still Hope.

They have counseling, a 90-day recovery plan, group coaching, and coaching for spouses.

Listen to me…there is grace for you because of the blood of Jesus. This shame doesn’t have to control you any longer. Reach out to Mark and Beth and find help and healing for your journey.

Now, this may not be a part of your story, or you may have already found grace, forgiveness, and freedom. So, you may be saying, what do I do?

Well, what did Jesus say to the Church in Thyatira?

What Does Jesus Tell the Church to Do?

• Refuse to Compromise
• Run to Repentance
• Remain Faithful and Anticipate Reigning with Christ

Remain Faithful and Anticipate Reigning with Christ — Vs. 24-28

I’m out of time, but the gist of the message from Jesus is: “This isn’t you? Great! Stay faithful to me. Hold Fast! Don’t let go! Keep at it!”

And…

“I’ve got a special job for you. You will reign with me over the nations.”

There is more to come on that as we study Revelation, and this great cosmic battle unfolds. But just make sure you seek to stay faithful.