The Church of Thyatira – (Un)Faithful (Church Part IV)

Sermon Title: The Church of Thyatira – From Unfaithful to Faithful

Good News Statement: God Requires Us to be His Church

Preached: Sunday, February 4th, 2024 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Revelation 2:18-29 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is filled with hope, beasts, seven trumpets, seven stars, seven lampstands, seven seals, seven churches, seven bowls, and a lot of symbolic imagery that gets people confused and at times a little scared, which is why Jesus tells John in the opening chapter, “Do not be afraid” (Revelation 1:17). When writing to the Seven Churches, we get a glimpse of what church we need to be—a church without fear but filled with love. Our reading comes from the Book of Revelation, Chapter Two, Verses Eighteen thru Twenty-nine. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

The Message to Thyatira

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze:

¹⁹ “I know your works: your love, faith, service, and endurance. I know that your latest works are greater than the first. ²⁰ But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to engage in sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.  ²² Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings, ²³ and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. ²⁴ 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; ²⁵ only hold fast to what you have until I come. ²⁶ To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end,

I will give authority over the nations,
²⁷ to rule them with an iron scepter,
as when clay pots are shattered—

²⁸ “even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star. ²⁹ Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

We are continuing our study of the seven churches John addresses in the first two chapters of the Book Revelation. We’ve already looked at the Church in Ephesus, who had forsaken their first love; the Church at Smyrna, who experienced persecution and were encouraged not to fear but to remain rich in their faith; and the Church at Pergamum, where some appeared to be seduced and were displaying a morally compromised lifestyle but realized how powerful—life-saving, life-changing, and life-healing—the word of God is. As a matter of fact, the Church of Pergamum was encouraged to live out the words of Hebrews 4:12 which tells of God’s word being “alive and active.” So far these three churches have helped us, as a church, to become a church that embraces the love of Christ in all that we do, remain faithful to the works and mission before us, and to live out the word of God in our life and ministry. But there is still more to learn…

Today, we will be looking at the Church of Thyatira: a church that appeared to be tolerating sin, but soon came to learn that sin was no match for what they were originally doing and teaching. However, before we get to the Church of Thyatira, let me take a few moments to return to the Church of Pergamum, as this church reminds us that even when sin is pushing against us—when people are trying to push us to believe in a certain way—that neither sin nor false believers can take away the word of God in our life.

I shared with you last week that the Church of Pergamum was located within the confines of Pergamum the city which was very wicked, cruel, destructive, and evil—much the city of Nineveh before it repented.  The Church of Pergamum, striving and wanting to remain faithful to the word of God and Christ, was under Roman control and rule, and was conflicted on what to do: give into those around them or remain faithful to God’s word. The church wanted to believe and remain faithful to God but was pressured on all sides to give in to the ways of the Roman Empire. However, the Church of Pergamum realized that following God’s powerful word is more important than always following the ways of man.

Through this realization, they learned what we all need to learn today as a church: the word of God is powerful—life-saving, life-healing, and life-changing—and from His word we accept a Jesus who sees our faithfulness, who helps us rebuke the Devil, and who gives blessings to those who want to be a church renowned in the love of Christ. The Church of Pergamum is our reminder of who Jesus is and who Jesus wants us to be as a church. Even when pressured on all sides, we are called to be the Body of Christ here on earth for God’s people: faithful, obedient, loving, caring, and seeking ways to rebuke the Devil. From God’s word, we learn how to be a church that remains true to our faith and to the teachings of both God and Jesus.

Nevertheless, we encounter another church that is battling sin, deceitfulness, wickedness, and cruelty. While seeking to overcome their sinful ways, Jesus through John, enlightens the Church of Thyatira of what they can do to become the Body of Christ on earth. From the Church of Thyatira, we are lead to seek out the unfaithful, nurture the faithful, and grow the church in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Body:

The city of Thyatira was about 30-35 miles southeast of Pergamum along a trade route, and it had a small military garrison to protect the well-known city of Pergamum. It was known for its wool and dye industries. The city was also known for having trade guilds, similar to what we identify as “unions” today, and if you were not a member of said trade guild, you were not successful.

There is not much history on the city of Thyatira from ancient times, but it was founded by the Lydians and used in the 3^rd Century B.C. as a defensive position for other cities. The only other time Thyatira is mentioned in the Bible occurs in the Book of Acts when we encounter a woman named Lydia. Luke wrote in Acts 16:14, “A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.” Lastly, Thyatira, throughout its history, has been known as the place of Jezebel: a place of deceit, false teaching, corruption, the unfaithful, and the sinful.

Thyatira, unlike Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum, is struggling with an issue that none of the other churches have had to deal with. Some believers in Thyatira were not only being led astray spiritually, but they were beginning to tolerate what was being taught and embraced sin and immorality. In Thyatira, the evil teaching was being promoted and tolerated by believers. John warned the believers in Thyatira that tolerating false teaching was wrong, and by allowing wayward teaching, they were saying it was okay. Unlike the Church of Pergamum that found refuge in the word of God and spiritual guidance and healing in the two greatest commandments—they shall love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, body, and soul; and to love their neighbor as they love themselves (Mark 12:29-31)—Thyatira has stepped away from the word of God. However, God has not stepped away from them.

The Church of Thyatira, teaches us and reminds us that there have been moments in our life where we have thought about being unfaithful to God—turning our back against God, stepping away from the teachings of Jesus Christ, and choosing to go our own way instead of following the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Nevertheless, there is still time to be faithful and to grow in the knowledge and grace of God.

 

Movement One: THE UNFAITHFUL – HOW DO WE HELP THE UNFAITHFUL?

After describing Jesus as the “Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Revelation 2:18) and sharing what the Church of Thyatira has done well, Jesus, through John, informs the church of what he has against them. Jesus notes, “But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to engage in sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve” (Revelation 2:20-23).

Out front, Jesus’ words are dreadful. Jesus’ words are blunt, and bold, and to the point. Jesus’ words should scare all those who read them. Why? Because Jesus is angry and does not like what his church has become. The Church of Thyatira has come to tolerate sin and follow the ways of Jezebel.  Before we go any further, I believe it is important to remind ourselves of who Jezebel was. Despite being a fairly minor character in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Jezebel is one of the most infamous figures in the entire Bible. According to the Book of Kings, Jezebel was a Phoenician princess who married Ahab, the seventh king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and ruled as his queen around the mid-ninth century BCE. Her father was King Ethbaal of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bible. Jezebel worshiped the Canaanite storm god Ba’al and converted her husband to Ba’alism as well. Most of the story of Jezebel is focused on her treachery and worship of Ba’al in opposition to the Israelite god Yahweh and his prophets.

Furthermore, Jezebel is portrayed unfavorably by the author of Kings for many reasons. One of the greatest issues, however, is the intermarriage between the Israelite Ahab and the Gentile, or non-Jewish, Jezebel. For most of the Hebrew Bible, any marriage outside of the Israelite tradition was discouraged, particularly if it was to a foreign woman as women were characterized as deceivers. In the Jezebel Bible story, Jezebel was infamous for several things: persecuting the prophets of Yahweh, instituting worship of Ba’al in Israel, trying to have the prophet Elijah killed, and framing and executing Naboth to get his vineyard. To be associated with Jezebel, to be clear, was not a good thing. And then for Jesus to bluntly tell a group of people they have come to tolerate the ways, the teachings, the beliefs, and the morals of Jezebel should be received as a warning sign. Jesus is trying to get the attention of those who have become unfaithful because he has seen how the wicked ways of Jezebel destroyed the early Israelites and does not want that to happen again. He sees the unfaithful.

Who are the unfaithful? The unfaithful are those who downplay the ways of God; who go against the teachings and mission and morals of Jesus Christ; who believe that they are better than the words of God; who don’t humble themselves before the Almighty; and who would rather follow the ways of Jezebel and sin rather than seek repentance and salvation. In a way, the unfaithful are those who run to Tarshish when God needs them to run toward Nineveh to save His people; the unfaithful are those who strive every day to come up with excuses not to follow God’s commands and plans; the unfaithful are those who let Goliath destroy the people; the unfaithful are the Gomers who say one things but do another; the unfaithful are those who want to be served rather than do the serving; and the unfaithful are those people who do their best to lead you away from the two greatest commandments offered by both God and Jesus Christ. At some point in your life, you have been unfaithful to God because either you didn’t believe in Him, you didn’t trust in Him, you didn’t obey His teachings, you sinned and didn’t seek repentance from Him; and you chose to do things on your own rather than letting Him help you. We have been unfaithful a time or two in our life, but God has still remained faithful to us: He hasn’t forsaken us and He never will.

Before describing what Jesus was going to do to Jezebel to get the peoples’ attention—“I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings, and I will strike her children dead” (Revelation 2:23)—he reminds us that even as unfaithful ones he gives us time to repent. Revelation 2:21 shares, “I gave her time to repent…” You might not like the fact that there have been moments in your life when you might have been unfaithful, but I hope you love the reality that Jesus is willing to wait for us to repent and to recognize our wrongdoings. 2 Peter 3:9 asserts, “The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” God waited for the sailors and captain and people of Nineveh to repent so He didn’t cause them to perish. Jesus is waiting for the churches of Revelation to repent so that they do not perish. God waited for Gomer, Hosea’s wife, to repent so that she did not perish. And Jesus waited for the woman at the well to repent through her offering of water from the well so that she would not perish. Jesus is waiting for all of us to seek repentance because we have all fallen short of the glory of God and he does not want us to perish. He sacrificed himself so that we would not perish (John 3:16) but believe. Jesus is waiting for you to repent.

God sees the potential of the Church of Thyatira and does not want to give up on them: in the unfaithful there is a heart wanting and waiting to be faithful. Jesus states, “And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve” (Revelations 2:23). Jesus sees our potential as disciples. Jesus sees the potential of our church. He knows what we desire and deserve. He witnesses the commitment we have to each other, the love we share with one another, and the motivation to be a church for future generations. We are filled with the faith of God and the love of Christ.

As a church, we must do our best to step away from things that make us unfaithful, repent of our wrongdoings, and allow God to guide our hearts to help those who are unfaithful to find faith in Christ. As a church we are here for God’s people, just like God is here for and with us. Jezebel was leading believers astray; but that is not what we are called to do: we are called to lead people to Christ and not away from Christ (1 Corinthians 10:28-32).

 

Movement Two: THE FAITHFUL – HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH

After being terrified of Jesus’ warning towards those who have been unfaithful, John shares a message to the church of hope for those who have remained faithful to being the Body of Christ. Revelation 2:24-28, “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 to what you have until I come. To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations, to rule them with an iron scepter, as when clay pots are shattered—even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star.”

Jesus knows what is in our heart. Jesus knows our every thought. Jesus knows our every move, every breath, and every pain, sorrow, scar, and joy, happiness, and adoration as an individual and as a church. Jesus knows what we long to hold onto in our life. The letter to the Church of Thyatira ends with words of hope and instruction. We, as a church, are called to hold to his teaching and to hold fast to what he has given us so that we will once again behold his morning star of light and glory: his healing and redemption, his salvation and grace, his mercy and his love. We are called to be faithful. But what does it mean to be faithful?

In the eyes of Christ, to be faithful is a result of our commitment and trust in Jesus Christ. As a church, when we remain faithful, we are commanded to hold fast to what Jesus has given us in life until he comes again: he has given us each other, a mission, a vision, ideas to grow and maintain the church, to share the good news, and to be a place where we are challenged to grow our individual faith and to leave all our worries and burdens at the altar. Jesus needs us to hold on to what he wants us to do no matter what. Paul tells us we are saved by the gospel if we hold fast to its words (1 Corinthians 15:2). Paul informs us again, we are to hold fast to that which is good (1Thessalonians 5:21). We are to hold fast to the church that God needs us to be. But what kind of church is God calling us to be? I believe God is calling us to be a church that is truly a lighthouse for His people and place and space where people find Jesus, get to know Jesus, and strive to be like Jesus. I believe God is calling us to be a church that is faithful to the message and works of Jesus Christ that acts like a family, that builds people up, that offers respect, that finds ways to be a source of love and care, and that leads people away from the morals of the Jezebels in this world. I believe we are a church commanded to hold fast to the heart that Jesus sees in all of us.

When we hold fast to and do what we can to fulfill the words of John Wesley, when he stated, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, and as long as ever you can,” then I know that we are on our way to being a faithful and committed church to the works of Christ. We will have power over nations, meaning that we have power through the gospel. We shall rule with a rod of iron, meaning that we are stronger than the wicked who push against us. We will be given the morning star; essentially, we will receive more of the light of Christ in our life.

We are a faithful church that has overcome trials, temptations, and setbacks. We are a church that is striving to move forward, holding fast to the works and faith of Jesus Christ. We are a church shining brightly with Jesus Christ even in the darkest of valleys. We are a church that has taken the hill and doesn’t plan to stop. Are you willing to hold fast and continue to be the church Jesus is calling us to be? Are you faithful to Jesus Christ?

 

Movement Three: WHAT WE NEED TO DO

As we close our study of the Church of Thyatira, I want us to be reminded of what a church that is faithful looks like. Jesus begins his letter to the Church of Thyatira with these words, “I know your works: your love, faith, service, and endurance. I know that your latest works are greater than the first” (Revelation 2:19).

How does Jesus describe a faithful church? He says that a faithful church has works; meaning that it always has work to do, something to think about, and an idea to share and pursue, and an obligation to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). A church should never remain in neutral or go static, but should always be finding ways to do something, to do some work. Jesus says a faithful church has love. Without love the church profits nothing, it can’t move mountains, it can’t grow, and it can’t be always moving (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). With love, though, the church finds ways to grow and to be everything and more. Then Jesus says a faithful church has faith. This is the only way the church can please God (Hebrews 11:6). With faith, the word of God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). Next, Jesus says a church that is faithful undergoes works of ministry and service. A church should seek to find ways to be a church outside of these four walls: gathering in groups, checking in with one another, creating ministries that involve the needs of the community and desires of the congregation, and try new things and pursue new ideas. The church is a ministry of service to those within and outside these four walls. Lastly, Jesus shares that a faithful church has patience. No church could exist without patience (2 Peter 1:6). Nothing happens over night; but it does happen when we endure patience in Christ.

When a church focuses on works, love, faith, ministry, service, and patience, the church’s “works are greater than its first” (Revelation 2:20). What Jesus means by these words is this, “The church is to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.” The church has grown and continues to grow because those who make up the church have recognized that today is a new day and that the church is something that needs to be alive and active for generations to come. Numbers have the power to convey daunting and joyful messages, but seeing a church active in works, love, faith, ministry, service, and patience in Christ is more than numbers will be able to convey.

Although the Church of Thyatira was struggling to combat the ways of Jezebel—meaning that they are unfaithful—Christ never gave up on them because he saw what they were capable of: they had faith in becoming his church.

 

Conclusion:

You, as a believer, are not expected to be perfect. But every believer is called to repent. Every believer is expected to avoid sin and not live a spiritually compromised lifestyle by refusing to be misled by false teaching. It is the truth that sets a believer free, and it is faith and the love of God, along with loving others, that will guide you to persevere and live a lifestyle of obedience and service to Christ. When you persevere in faith, hope, and love in Christ, you will grow deeper in the things of God and will accomplish greater things as time goes on.

As a church, don’t we want to persevere through struggles, trials, and temptations? Don’t we want to be a church that seeks to do work, that wants to show love, express our faith, create ministries, do service, and be patient? From the Church of Thyatira, we are called to be faithful. We are commanded to hold fast to the teachings of Christ. And we are asked by God to do what we can today so that we are here tomorrow. We will constantly battle “Jezebels,” but sooner or later those “Jezebels” will be no more because we will fully commit ourselves to the works and teachings of Christ, who bestows upon us victory and righteousness.

From the Church of Thyatira this is what we learn: First, we have throughout our life been unfaithful but Jesus is waiting for us to repent of our sins. Second, we are faithful and as a church we need to hold fast to the faith of Christ so that we can continue to be God’s church. Third, is our action plan: we need to continue to be a church of works, love, faith, ministry, service, and patience. We are God’s church and that, I believe, is what we always want to be. Who are we as a church? And what is God calling us to do as a church?

 

Communion:

As we continue to seek ways to be God’s church, let us remind ourselves that a church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is the people. And it’s the people that Jesus gathered with in the upper room before his crucifixion. These people, his disciples, weren’t perfect, they were unfaithful, they sinned, and they questioned the ways and methods of Jesus, but at the end of the day, around that table, they realized the meaning and significance of repentance, of seeking forgiveness and being restored. They were shown and taught about works, love, faith, ministry, service, and patience. As we celebrate Holy Communion together, may we be reminded of the repentance we need to seek as we truly open our hearts and minds to the mission that God has put before us.

 

Benediction:

We are a church of works. We are a church of love. We are a church of faith. We are a church of ministry and service. And we are a church of patience. We are God’s church ready to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ in all that we do and say. May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth finding ways to be the church God needs us to be. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.