GOING TO CHURCH WITH THE DEVIL
Revelation 2:18-29

Introduction:     What have we learned from the messages to these churches? Ephesus : The Fallen Church; Smyrna : The Fearful Church; Pergamos: The Faltering Church; And now Thyatira; The False Church. The devil goes to church every Sunday. He will do anything to hold back the flood tides of revival. He will work on the outside of the church to bring persecution to divide and distract God’s people, but if he can’t stop it on the outside he’ll get on the inside. He will do anything to rob the church of its focus and its fire; of its unity and purpose; to render it a useless and empty tool in God’s hands. The devil uses people. I don’t want the devil to use me! Why do some people fall away from the faith?

I.          WHEN WE FORGET WHAT IS IMPORTANT (VV.18-19)

I don’t know everything that is important, but I do know these are important.

A.                 The Supremacy Of Jesus Christ (v.18)

The # 1 cause of the lack of fire and focus is getting your eyes off Jesus!

·        “Son of God” = (Illus. Thyatira was a buffer city; Caesar’s elite guard was stationed there. The “sun god” was the patron saint of the elite guard.)

·        “Eyes like fire…feet like brass” = Jesus knows who’s real and who’s not and Jesus will judge!

B.                 Our Service For Jesus Christ (v.19)

What are the credentials of a Christian? The works that are produced through that Christian’s life! (Eph.2:10)

·        They were active in their works

o       Works – Our calling card - (Illus. The greatest cure for depression is finding something that you can do for God and getting busy for the Lord!!! (Homebound, Nursing Home Ministries and Outreach etc.)

o       Love – The only valid motive for works.

o       Faith – Works born of conviction – (Illus. It is important to be faithful! We may not be able to do many things, but we can all be faithful!)

o       Patience – Endurance in the work.

Works are good, but there is a danger of trusting in them instead of Jesus. Worship comes before work. We must come to Him before we can go to them!

·        They were advancing in their works

o       Development and Progress – (Illus. No room for laziness.)

o       Our works need to be growing – A lack of growth in our work for God indicates a lack of growth in spiritual development (2 Pet.3:18).

o       Have you plateaued? – (Heb.10:23-25)

II.         WHEN WE OVERLOOK WHAT IS EVIL (VV.20-23)

This church may have been founded by the testimony of a woman ( Lydia – Acts 16), but this church is certainly floundering because of a woman! “Jezebel” = Not the O.T. woman but a woman that was Jezebel-like.

A.                 Heresy Is Condoned (v.20)

What was she teaching?

·        Jezebel – Introduced Baal worship to Israel . A worship filled with sexual perversion and idolatry.

·        Jezebelism – In allowing this woman to assume leadership in their church they exposed themselves to three-fold error. (1) Wrong in principle. – “Thou sufferest…” The N.T. is clear on this matter (1 Tim.2:12-14) this biblical principle has its roots in the order of creation itself and is mandatory for the church. (2) Wrong in precept. - Called herself a prophetess. All about control (Illus. Hates Prophets (Elijah); hates Preaching, Praise, and the Power of God, because it’s out of her control! “To teach and seduce” = led astray by deception (Illus. Incorporates worldliness into the church and its worship like the need be like the world to win the world. Make sin not so sinful.). (3) Wrong in practice. – They were guilty of the gravest sins against man and God. This church had the attitude that doctrine is not important, but it IS!

B.                 Heresy Is Continuing (v.21)

The need for repentance in the modern day church. God says, “If you want deal with her, I’ll deal with her.” I want to check-up and confess-up so God want have to deal in this way with me.

C.                 Heresy Is Condemned (vv.22-23)

The Lord would much rather pardon than punish. Prophecies of doom are usually uttered in hopes that they might never have to be fulfilled. Notice the Lord is:

·        Patient in Judgment (v.22)

·        Practical in Judgment (v.23a) - (1 Tim.5:20). This judgment was such that others would know God had acted and would mend their own ways.

·        Perfect in Judgment (23b) – Salvation is always according to faith; judgment is according to works.

III.       WHEN WE REJECT WHAT IS ETERNAL (VV.24-29)

People fall away from the faith and the devil gets in the church and he causes division and distraction and we loose sight of eternal things. Too many of God’s people

A.                 Reject Spiritual Promises For Earthly Popularity. (vv.24-25)

I have to make a determined stand and be faithful to what God says no matter if it robs me earthly popularity.

B.                 Exchange Spiritual Power For Earthly Pleasure (v.26)

God will share this power to those who desire and live for it.

C.                 Exchange Spiritual Position For Earthly Praise

Let’s live not for this world, but for the world to come! Ruling and reigning with Jesus.

Conclusion:       What is a Church? The Church is not a fraternity, a sorority, or a country club. The Church is not a bank or a business. The Church is a blood-bought, blood-washed body of baptized believers. The “called out assembly.” The “Bride of Christ” chosen to carry the Light of Jesus to a dark and dying world. Beloved, the devil will do all that he can to stop us. But, he is a defeated foe! He has already lost! There is “Victory in Jesus!” Remember these words of Jesus when trouble comes your way, (Luke 21:28)  "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."