Church Defend Truth Thyatira Title: Church, Defend Truth! Text: Rev. 2:18-29 Tracing: Preached on 6/10/90 at SDCC. Topic: False teachers Theme: Nutshell: Even an otherwise strong church can be crippled by a false teacher.
Objectives:
Prim Goal :
Intnd Aud.:
Intro.: ÿWhat must it be like to stand before a divine being with head and hair of the purest white, ÿwith eyes as bright as fire, ÿwith feet glowing like white-hot metal, with a voice as loud as a waterfall? It would be rather awe-inspiring wouldn’t it? And ÿthen ÿ- to have this divine being begin speaking of ÿYour church in this way – “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Wouldn’t we have our heads in the clouds? This is just the way that ÿJesus ÿbegins his letter to the church in Thyatira ÿin ÿRev. 2:18. Read v.18,19. The ÿchurch ÿat ÿEphesus was criticized for a lack of ÿlove ÿ- Thyatira ÿhad love. ÿThe church in Smyrna was comforted in a time of ÿpersecution – Thyatira was not experiencing persecution. ÿThe church ÿin ÿPergamum had the misfortune to be located in ÿa ÿmajor center ÿof idolatry with idols to Caesar, ÿAsklepios, ÿand Zeus ÿ- Thyatira had no major temples of idolatry. Not ÿonly that but they were producing fruits – commended ÿfor their ÿlove and the service which flows from love – commended ÿfor their faith and the perseverance which comes from faith. And they were still improving! Growing, maturing, ministering more and more. They ÿwere a STRONG CHURCH! ÿBut then the Lord continues with His statement to them v.20 Jezebel – sidonian wife of Ahab, idolator. perhaps more Nicolaitanism. evidently already confronted by John or someone else. Sarcasm from Jesus! “She wants a bed … I’ll give her a bed!” Probably adultery in both senses – lit. and fig. for idolatry Punish those who compromise, kill those won over by her History ÿgives us further clues: ÿtrade guilds with individual “gods”. ÿÿParticipation ÿwas perceived to be mandantory ÿfor ÿthe successful ÿoperation ÿof ÿa ÿbusiness or ÿtrade. ÿÿIdolatry ÿwas involved and, as with virtually all idolatry, sexual immorality of all kinds followed. 2 Main point of this is that EVEN AN OTHERWISE STRONG CHURCH CAN BE ÿCRIPPLED ÿBY ÿA ÿFALSE ÿTEACHER. ÿAnd ÿnow ÿwe ÿcan ÿsee ÿthe significance ÿof the description of Jesus. ÿHe went ÿthrough ÿthe refining ÿfire (can either remove impurities or test for them) ÿÿ- now, so would Thyatira. What to do about False teachers? Body: I. DON’T BE MISLED. How to recognize: Justify ÿsin (Homosexuality, ÿfornication, ÿdivorce, ÿÿcorrupt business) Rely ÿÿon ÿ”Experience” ÿÿover ÿscripture, ÿÿsubjective ÿÿover objective. Supercede or contradict Scripture Divisive in character and conduct II. REMOVE THEM IF POSSIBLE. Only ÿin ÿthe ÿearly ÿstages – ÿnotice ÿthat ÿwhile ÿthey ÿare criticized ÿfor tolerating Jezebel, ÿthey are not told ÿto ÿremove her! III. HANG ON THROUGH THE TURMOIL. Damage to reputation and tranquility but no other burden. continue to the end and we will rule with Jesus.
Conc.:
Comments: Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church 1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343 Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!