Revelation: The Message To The Church

Subject: The Church At Thyatira

by Rick Welborne

　
Revelation 2:18-29 (NKJV)
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-- as I also have received from My Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star. 
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." '
–Thyatira was a small town about 40 miles southeast of Pergamom...It is interesting to note that Jesus sent His longest message to such a small town pastor and church.
–Jesus does not just care for the big cities but He loves the least as much as the greatest.
–Thyatira was well known for its manufacture of brass and isn’t it interesting that Jesus reveals Himself with feet like fine brass. He knows how to identify with us!
–It was also famous for its purple cloth. Remember Lydia in Acts 16 becoming a believer in Christ. Many believe the church there was started in her home. The power of one!
1. To the pastor and the church at Thyatira Jesus said I commend you for your love but I decry your tolerance of evil.
Revelation 2:19-20 (NKJV)
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
–The church at Ephesus was commended because they hated evil but were rebuked because of their lack of love...You have lost your first love.
–Thyatira was commended for their love but they were way too tolerant of evil.
–I am sure all of you have known people in this church and others who have loved family and friends almost to a fault...really no "almost" to it.
–They love them, provide for them, bail them out way too much, take care of them (and their children), defend them thru everything but will not confront their sin.
–Moreover, they would get upset with anyone who would confront these precious people about their sin or get upset with anyone questioning their love or tolerance. God is love!
–They say...Jesus loved everyone and I will love my family and friends no matter what. What they must see is their loved ones do not get heaven just because they are connected to them...they must have their own relationship with Jesus.
–On the other side...we have known people who hate sin and evil but also seem to truly hate the sinner...no love or grace.
–Telling someone who is doing evil that they are going to split hell wide open unless they repent may be true but there might be a better way of confronting them.
–Pastor here in Central Florida started his funeral of a man in his late 20s with this statement: "If any man ever went to hell...this man did!" This made national news.
–He obviously had picked up on this man’s evil and sin but not a whole lot of wisdom or love was shown toward the family.
–Thyatira’s love for God and people made them work hard, serve faithfully, have faith in God, and be persistent in their lives everyday.
–They were even commended for doing more work at the present than they were doing at the beginning...now that is love. Jesus was upset about something!
2. To the pastor and the church at Thyatira Jesus said I am upset with you because of your tolerance of Jezebel.
Revelation 2:20-23 (NKJV)
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
–God had something against them...You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She leads by lust, and lies thru her teeth, and no one confronts her.
–I want to discuss with you the spirit of Jezebel from my study and research and direct experience in dealing with it. I have the scares to prove it...The Spirit of Jezebel
A. The spirit of Jezebel is rooted in pride.
Jeremiah Johnson: The name "Jezebel" literally translated means "without cohabitation."
She refuses to dwell or lead with anyone unless she can dominate and control them. 
–In the church it will manifest itself as superior knowledge and superior leadership...can be a woman or a man...it can be in every institution including families...marriages...work places...it is arrogance manifested.
–No one hears from God like them..They are super spiritual and others have not measured up to their standard...never will! Not always but most of the time want to counsel folks.
B. The spirit of Jezebel is rooted in control.
–Nothing can get done unless they do it...or at least that is the only way it will be right.
–New people either comply to their control or they are indirectly forced out...sometimes directly if they are seen as a threat. Exp....Jezebel serving drinks.
–They want to be close to the leadership so they can have the inside scoop on everything.
Jeremiah Johnson: Jezebel loves to act submissive and servant like, but only for the sake of gaining strategic position and advantage. From her heart, she yields to no one. 
–If they feel the leadership is trying to usurp their perceived authority...they will form a coup to get rid of the leadership. Usually a family clan which makes them strong.
C. The spirit of Jezebel is rooted in lust.
–This is a lust for power, a lust for attention, a lust for recognition...Make me an elder!
Sometimes they will work behind the scenes if they have an Ahab to do their biding.
–There is, in my spirit, a red flag when someone wants the limelight too much. I will...I
will...I will...Sounds so much like Satan in Isaiah 14.
–The Old Testament Jezebel lusted for power and possessions...This Jezebel in Revelations is worse...she wants all this but is also willing to use sexual immorality to her advantage.
D. The spirit of Jezebel is rooted in manipulation.
–This spirit is not afraid of lying or character assignation...listen, Life Church, before you believe what someone is telling you...you may want to get the other side of the story.
Proverbs 15:14 (NLT)
14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.
–A wise person will want to hear both sides of the story before they make a judgement.
Jezebel has no problem campaigning (slander and gossip) for her cause while church leadership chooses to protect the flock by keeping silent.
–What are you saying, Pastor Rick? Protect yourself from gossip and slander, protect your leadership and brothers and sisters from this Jezebel spirit...how?
–Either don’t listen to it in the first place or once it is said...tell Jezebel you are going to the leadership to share what they just said.
–Many churches would be more healthy and effective if this spirit was confronted and dealt with...we have been brave enough to deal with it and root it out. Exp. Deacon - wife.
–Sweet until voted in...became controlling and manipulative...told maintenance they worked for her now. Husband told me...what ever you want done...tell me.
1 Kings 21:25 (NLT)
25 No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the LORD’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel.
–Started building a pack around them and started attacking other leadership. Confronted.
I don’t have to put up with this...If you work with me you do...they were given an opportunity to repent...chose not to and they left...much collateral damage...sad!
E. The spirit of Jezebel is cultivated in an atmosphere of fear.
–By my observation...the spirit of Jezebel loves to be in control by using fear and intimidation. Strong believers are afraid of this person.
1 Kings 19:1-4 (NKJV)
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
–I think I am going to write a book, "Pastor-ing is not for Sissies". I have taught our staff how to stand up and confront Jezebel and Ahab...if we don’t they will take over our churches.
–Years ago Ahab and Jezebel came to our church...singing was bad, musicians couldn’t play, deacons and their wives were unfriendly, the preaching was shallow, not being fed.
–Called their pastor up north...happiest day of 45 years of ministry...when these people left their church...If they ever saw Satan manifested in the flesh...these people. (They were leaders there).
–My question - Why let them stay in leadership and stay in the church...well our church is small (Thyatira was small), they have many relatives, and it would have hurt us financially.
–Do you just suppose that if you had dealt with it (not been afraid of losing those who were hurting the church and losing finances) that God would have blessed you with more people and more finances.
–Ahab and Jezebel flourish in an atmosphere of fear...one of the reasons that you feel such an atmosphere of peace here is because we invite Holy Spirit and do not tolerate Jezebel.
F. The spirit of Jezebel will destroy her own children.
Revelation 2:23 (NIV)
23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
–Do we not understand that we are modeling for our children what Christianity is?
–If you have a Jezebel spirit...more than likely you will have kids who take on that same spirit...sometimes they are even worse.
Matthew 23:15 (NIV)
15 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Jeremiah Johnson: Jezebel hates the prophets; her worst fear is that people will embrace the message of repentance and forgiveness. Jezebel hates humility and prayer. They are the end of her existence. When she wars, it is to stir people against the message of the prophetic church. She loves to instigate and bring division.
–There are three attitudes people can have toward evil...Some love evil...some tolerate evil but the righteous hate evil.
3. To the pastor and church at Thyatira Jesus says hold on!
Revelation 2:24-25 (NKJV)

24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.