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Thyatira was a pretty small town compared with others at the
start of Revelation. But it’s also mentioned in Acts 16:14 –
Perhaps she started the church when she returned. Either way
in this busy township with craft unions and guilds of all descriptions the
gospel changed lives and the church grew.
We’re 40 years on and
You’ve probably noticed that each of these letters have a
pattern.
Though this letter follows the same pattern there is
something which is specially emphasised.
‘I know’ is the theme of this letter.
It starts in the introduction, Jesus describes himself ‘These
are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire whose
feet are like burnished bronze.’ John had seen this already - 1:14-15.
His eyes pierced through barriers the Pharisees set up - he
grieved at their hardness of heart.
And Jesus’ gaze met Peter’s after he denied knowing him
three times.
Here Jesus knows and sees the good and the bad. No-one minds
him seeing the good - the light of the world pierces right into the darkness of
Jezebel’s influence.
Then Jesus says ‘I AM he who searches hearts and minds’.
v23
Cf. the emphatic ego eimi used in John - I AM the bread of life - I AM the
light of the world - etc. He uses the divine title - I AM THAT I AM - the name of Yahweh himself.
And - he claims the ability to see all - not just the
outward - there are no doors closed to him. He knew what was going on in the
hearts and minds of the first rebels.
In the appointment of
In Jeremiah He knew the heart of stone and could replace it
with a responsive heart of flesh. Jeremiah has a wonderful passage in which he
contrasts man and God - Jeremiah 17:9f. The heart is deceitful above all
things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
"I the LORD search the heart and examine
the mind…
Jesus knew what was in the hearts of those around him Mark 2:8
In
Peter affirms 3 times, ‘You
know I love you’ - then –‘Lord, you know all things; you know I love
you’. Peter spent the past 3 years learning that Jesus ignores his bluff
exterior and knows him.
In Acts, the disciples used an unusual word for the Lord. Acts
1:24 - about the appointment of Matthias - they didn’t want to make the same
mistake as Samuel - they pray ‘Lord, - you know everyone’s heart.’ (NIV) In fact it’s a title ‘cardio-nōsta’ ‘heart-knower’,
repeated later in Acts 15:8.
The church at Thyatira was being called to account - Jesus
knows them thoroughly!
He knew the good that needed encouraging
2:19 I know your
deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now
doing more than you did at first. That’s good!
We recently looked at the letter to
Perseverance is a sign of the deep hope in their hearts -
here is faith, hope and love all in this church. And they’re doing more than they did at first,
not content to rest on their laurels, they go on growing.
Jesus sees all this and says ‘well-done good and faithful
servant.’
BUT - He also knew the bad that needed changing
If the Ephesians
were discerning and weeded out infection in their midst but lacked love, Thyatira had the love but didn’t weed
out the infection!
‘Jezebel’ may well have been a woman who - like the Jezebel
in the OT - led others into sin.
She certainly seems to have been subtle - the sin was
justified as ‘deep things’ - some
were later to say that those who are truly spiritual are above the flesh, they
aren’t affected by the flesh. Therefore every appetite could be indulged. That’s deep!
Jesus calls it ‘the
deep things - of satan!’ v.24
We’re reminded that morally rebellious behaviour can run
riot in a church. It has to be dealt with.
Jesus warns them that they’re in danger of losing hold of all
he’s given them - ’Only hold on to what you have until
I come’. Moral compromise drags Christians away from their calling and churches
into the mud of this world’s lifestyle.
It’s a strong word of warning.
They needed to repent - turn around and go the other way!
- Christ’s way! v21
The great thing about Christian grace is this - no matter
what some male or female ‘Jezebel’ has led you into, no matter what you may
have done or become Jesus offers total forgiveness and cleansing!
He calls us to repent - turn away from what we were doing - yes even as
followers of Jesus - repentance isn’t just something you do when you’re
converted, it’s an ongoing life attitude.
He receives us as His children, picks up the tab and picks
up the relationship in love and acceptance.
·
Shame
and guilt may tell us that we can’t tell him about it. Yet it was for shame and
guilt he went to the cross for you.
·
Shame
and guilt add their barriers to returning to Him. Yet Jesus bore that in his
body on the cross so you don’t have to carry it any more!
·
Shame
and guilt may shut you off from God and others. But Jesus took that rejection
for you and he reconciles us to His father and to his fellowship …
Christ’s offer to
those who overcome in His strength
…so much that Jesus tells them that whoever overcomes and
does His will ‘I’ll give authority over
the nations’ - sharing his eternal work - and ‘give the morning star’. What is this?
Zechariah said of Jesus He is the ‘the rising sun (who)
will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’
The churches may be golden lamp-stands but Jesus is the
bright morning star who gives their light! And He’ll stay with the overcomers forever! Jesus will be their strength and
their reward!
Do you want more of Jesus? Do you want unhindered
relationship with him? Seek His way - be one of those who shares in the
overcoming might of Jesus - we don’t overcome in our own strength but only in
Him!
Hallelujah!