Messages to the Church – Pt 5
Revelation 2:18-29 NLT
18 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:
19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.
22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,
To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.
28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Revelation 1:14-15 NLT
14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.
Hebrews 4:12-16 NLT
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Matthew 24:11 NLT
11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
1 Kings 16:30-33 NLT
30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. 32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
Three things Jesus reveals as the one who sees perfectly and stands firmly:
1. He searches every motive and gives what we deserve.
2. He purifies what compromise has corrupted.
3. He rewards those who endure faithfully.
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Jesus confronts corruption, revealing Himself as the One who searches the mind and heart of every person to purify the church and make it a faithful witness.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
1. Read Revelation 2:20. The complaint against Thyatira was that they “permitted” Jezebel to lead the Lord’s servants astray. What do you believe motivated this church to permit this compromise? Considering this, how have you seen God test your motives when you have been tempted to compromise?
2. This statement was made in the message: “Corruption occurs through a message of compromise disguised as spiritual insight.” Have you ever been misled by what you thought was a spiritual insight that turned out to be a compromise? If so, how did you realign with God’s Word and Spirit?
3. Jesus called the church in Thyatira to repent or change direction. How is God rescuing the church when He corrects it?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
What would enduring faithfully look like in your life right now?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Please pray for each group member to endure through the situation they just described.