"And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I Am He who searches the minds and the hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." Revelation 2:23
This week we are looking at the fourth of our seven churches. Thyatira was a city known for its numerous trade guilds and for its wool and dyeing industry. It was about 35 miles SE of Pergamum. Jesus introduces Himself in a powerful way:
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
Have you ever thought about the eyes of Jesus, what it will be like to look into His eyes? I know His eyes penetrate deep inside of me and see all the thoughts and intentions of my heart. But I also know He knew all the sins I would ever commit when He chose to go to the cross to die for me. He is a God of love and forgiveness. He is our Redeemer. I do not fear those eyes, because I know He loves me, and I have accepted Him as my Savior and Lord. It says His feet are like burnished bronze. In other words, feet that have been refined by the fiery trials He walked through on this earth for you and me. Let’s read what He says:
I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. Revelation 2:19
Notice with each church He always begins with commending them for what they are doing right and makes them aware He knows their deeds. They have love, faith, service, and perseverance. They have continued to progress in all these things. We want to ask ourselves, could He say the same about us? We must not just read through these verses, but apply them to our lives. As with each church He reproves and disciplines those He loves with the truth of their failures and sins. He loves us too much to look the other way and not address sin in our lives. He wants us to end it with repentance, forgiveness and cleansing, and restoration. That is why He chose to die on the cross.
We read in Revelation 2:20-23:
But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she doesn’t want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I Am He who searches the minds and the hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
Jezebel was an evil woman who called herself a prophetess and was teaching and leading the bondservants of Christ astray. Notice God says He gave her time to repent, but she refuses. It is not His will that any should perish, but He is a holy, good God, who will not and cannot tolerate sin. He loves His creation. He asked His Son to be the holy sacrifice by dying a death on a cross and taking on the sins of the world so we might spend eternity with Him in heaven. That is His will for all mankind. There are no exceptions. Anyone and everyone can be forgiven and cleansed from their sin, but we must confess, repent, and change directions. It is our good He is always after. However, He created us with a free will. We must choose the way, the truth, and life. Jesus is the only way to the Father. John recorded to us in John 14:6:
Jesus said to him, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THROUGH ME."
He is warning this church if they do not repent they will give account for their deeds. This is true for all of us. God’s goodness will triumph over evil. I am so thankful for that! Aren’t you? The home He has been preparing for His own is with no sorrow, sin, sickness, no evil, no tears, only good. Heaven will be existing in His perfect love. We will become that perfect love. We will never sin again or disappoint Him. I cannot imagine the beauty of the new earth! Revelation is a book of hope for every believer. However it is a stark, sober reminder of the consequences of sin that hasn’t been placed under the blood of Jesus. Jesus then addresses the ones who are His in verses 24-25:
But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them — I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.
We see the heart of God encouraging those who are faithful to remain that way, to hold fast until He comes. Let these words just sink deep in your spirit this morning. Hear His cry to you. He then encourages us to be overcomers as Jesus has enabled us to be, and He wants to assure us the reward will be greater than the sacrifice. Let’s read His beautiful closing to this church, and to us:
"He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give 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. Revelation 2:26-29
God help us to set our hearts to persevere, to hold fast to that which is good, and to be overcomers for His glory. I believe the morning star is Jesus Himself. O Father give us ears to hear what your Spirit is proclaiming to each one of us as we read your amazing prophecy!
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
Another wonderful weekend with family celebrating Sarah’s 39th birthday! Skeet shooting weekend with a new shot gun and pink Browning shooting vest for her! Topped off with great display of fireworks and a full moon! Great family fun!
