Discernment and Righteousness: Lessons from Thyatira

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound lessons from the Old Testament and their relevance to the letter to the church in Thyatira from the book of Revelation. We began by revisiting the story of Israel's division after King Solomon's reign, highlighting the spiritual decline under leaders like Jeroboam and Ahab, who led the people into idolatry and immorality. This historical context sets the stage for understanding the warnings given to the church in Thyatira, which was commended for its love, faithfulness, service, and endurance but criticized for tolerating false teachings and immorality, symbolized by the figure of Jezebel.

The narrative of Israel's kings serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of replacing godliness with godlessness, a theme that resonates with the church in Thyatira. The church was praised for its increasing love and service but was admonished for allowing teachings that distorted grace and led believers into sin. This distortion, known as antinomianism, falsely claims that grace permits sin, undermining the moral law established by God.

We are reminded that true love does not equate to tolerance of sin, nor does it abandon mercy. Instead, it calls us to hold fast to the teachings of Christ, rejecting false doctrines and embracing the transformative power of grace. Jesus' message to Thyatira emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance and the need to discern and reject teachings that lead us away from God's truth.

The call to the church is clear: hold on to what is true and reject what is false. We are encouraged to pursue righteousness, not through our own works, but through the works of the Spirit, which produce love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. As we navigate the challenges of our faith journey, we are reminded of the authority and grace given to us by Christ, empowering us to live in the light and reject the darkness.

Key Takeaways:

- The story of Israel's division and decline under ungodly kings serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of idolatry and immorality. It highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands and rejecting false teachings that lead us away from Him. [36:36]

- The church in Thyatira was commended for its love and service but criticized for tolerating false teachings. This teaches us that love must be accompanied by discernment and a commitment to truth, rejecting any distortion of grace that permits sin. [44:35]

- Antinomianism, the belief that grace allows for sin, is a dangerous distortion of the gospel. True grace transforms us, calling us to live in righteousness and reject the works of the flesh. We must hold fast to the teachings of Christ and resist any doctrine that undermines His truth. [51:56]

- Jesus' message to Thyatira emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance. We are called to examine our hearts and minds, ensuring that our works glorify God and align with His will. This requires a commitment to truth and a rejection of false teachings. [56:03]

- The authority and grace given to us by Christ empower us to live in the light and reject the darkness. We are called to shepherd one another with love and strength, nurturing faithfulness and endurance as we await the return of our Lord. [01:07:02]

Youtube Chapters:

[0:00] - Welcome
[05:11] - Announcements and Events
[08:04] - Opening Prayer
[32:37] - Worship Reflection
[34:19] - Old Testament Context
[36:36] - Israel's Spiritual Decline
[40:47] - The Sins of Israel
[42:17] - Thyatira's Commendation and Critique
[44:35] - The Danger of Tolerating False Teachings
[47:23] - Jezebel's Influence
[49:27] - The Distortion of Grace
[51:56] - Antinomianism Explained
[53:42] - The Call to Righteousness
[56:03] - Jesus' Offer of Mercy
[59:37] - The Question of Honor
[01:01:10] - The Consequences of Sin
[01:03:37] - Holding Fast to Truth
[01:05:17] - Empowered by Christ's Authority
[01:07:02] - Shepherding with Strength
[01:09:19] - Final Encouragement and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings 1-17
- Revelation 2:18-29

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the key actions taken by Jeroboam and Ahab that led to Israel's spiritual decline? How did these actions set the stage for the warnings given to the church in Thyatira? [36:36]

2. In Revelation 2:19, what qualities of the church in Thyatira are commended by Jesus? How does this contrast with the criticism they receive later in the passage? [44:35]

3. How does the sermon describe the influence of Jezebel in both the Old Testament and in the church of Thyatira? What specific behaviors and teachings are associated with her influence? [47:23]

4. What is antinomianism, and how does it relate to the issues faced by the church in Thyatira according to the sermon? [51:56]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Israel's division and decline serve as a cautionary tale for the church in Thyatira and for us today? What lessons can be drawn from their history? [36:36]

2. The sermon mentions that true love does not equate to tolerance of sin. How can this understanding of love be applied in the context of church discipline and personal relationships? [53:42]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between grace and sin? How does this understanding challenge or affirm your current beliefs about grace? [49:27]

4. How does the concept of spiritual vigilance, as emphasized in Jesus' message to Thyatira, apply to modern-day believers? What practical steps can be taken to maintain this vigilance? [56:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you may have tolerated false teachings or behaviors in your life or community. What steps can you take to address this and align more closely with God's truth? [44:35]

2. The sermon highlights the importance of holding fast to the teachings of Christ. What specific teachings or scriptures do you find challenging to hold onto, and how can you strengthen your commitment to them? [56:03]

3. Consider the concept of antinomianism discussed in the sermon. Are there areas in your life where you might be misusing grace as an excuse for sin? How can you address this distortion? [51:56]

4. How can you actively pursue righteousness through the works of the Spirit in your daily life? Identify one area where you can focus on producing love, faithfulness, service, or endurance this week. [53:42]

5. The sermon calls for spiritual vigilance. What are some practical ways you can examine your heart and mind to ensure your works glorify God? How can you incorporate these practices into your routine? [56:03]

6. Reflect on the authority and grace given to us by Christ. How can you use this empowerment to live in the light and reject the darkness in your personal and communal life? [01:07:02]

7. How can you shepherd others with love and strength, nurturing faithfulness and endurance in your community? Identify one person or group you can support in their faith journey this week. [01:07:02]

Devotional

Day 1: The Consequences of Idolatry and Immorality
The division of Israel and its spiritual decline under ungodly kings like Jeroboam and Ahab serve as a stark warning about the dangers of idolatry and immorality. These leaders led the people away from God, replacing godliness with godlessness, which resulted in severe consequences for the nation. This historical context is crucial for understanding the warnings given to the church in Thyatira, which was commended for its love and service but criticized for tolerating false teachings and immorality. The story of Israel's kings reminds us of the importance of remaining faithful to God's commands and rejecting any teachings that lead us away from Him. [36:36]

1 Kings 16:30-33 (ESV): "And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him."

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you have allowed something to take precedence over your relationship with God? How can you begin to realign your priorities today to ensure God remains at the center?

Day 2: Love with Discernment
The church in Thyatira was praised for its love, faithfulness, service, and endurance, yet it was admonished for tolerating false teachings. This teaches us that love must be accompanied by discernment and a commitment to truth. True love does not equate to tolerance of sin, nor does it abandon mercy. Instead, it calls us to hold fast to the teachings of Christ, rejecting any distortion of grace that permits sin. The message to Thyatira emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance and the need to discern and reject teachings that lead us away from God's truth. [44:35]

Philippians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."

Reflection: In what ways can you practice discernment in your relationships and community, ensuring that your love is both genuine and aligned with God's truth?

Day 3: The Danger of Antinomianism
Antinomianism, the belief that grace allows for sin, is a dangerous distortion of the gospel. This false teaching undermines the moral law established by God and leads believers into sin. True grace transforms us, calling us to live in righteousness and reject the works of the flesh. We must hold fast to the teachings of Christ and resist any doctrine that undermines His truth. The church in Thyatira serves as a reminder of the need to remain vigilant against such distortions and to embrace the transformative power of grace. [51:56]

Jude 1:4 (ESV): "For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Are there any beliefs or practices in your life that might be distorting the true meaning of grace? How can you seek God's guidance to correct these and live in true righteousness?

Day 4: Spiritual Vigilance and Commitment to Truth
Jesus' message to Thyatira emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance. We are called to examine our hearts and minds, ensuring that our works glorify God and align with His will. This requires a commitment to truth and a rejection of false teachings. As we navigate the challenges of our faith journey, we are reminded of the authority and grace given to us by Christ, empowering us to live in the light and reject the darkness. The call to the church is clear: hold on to what is true and reject what is false. [56:03]

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (ESV): "But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."

Reflection: How can you actively test and discern the teachings and influences in your life to ensure they align with God's truth? What steps can you take to strengthen your commitment to spiritual vigilance?

Day 5: Empowered by Christ's Authority
The authority and grace given to us by Christ empower us to live in the light and reject the darkness. We are called to shepherd one another with love and strength, nurturing faithfulness and endurance as we await the return of our Lord. This empowerment is not through our own works but through the works of the Spirit, which produce love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. As we hold fast to the teachings of Christ, we are equipped to navigate the challenges of our faith journey with confidence and hope. [01:07:02]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: In what ways can you rely on Christ's authority and grace to empower your daily walk with Him? How can you encourage and support others in your community to do the same?

Quotes

1) "May we hold on to what God has given us and let go of what he has not. May we turn away from evil when it is presented to us, no matter how enticing, because what we have from Jesus is far more precious and everlasting. May we hold on to works that matter works like love, faithfulness, service, and endurance, and see that those works increase more and more as we persevere toward heaven." [44:35] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "By tolerating Jezebel and following her teachings, Jesus servants were binding themselves back to sin through practices that were and still are, very anti God. As in the days of Jeroboam, son of Nabat and Jezebel, Ahab's queen, they abandoned unity with the spirit of God in order to tolerate unity with the flesh. Sexual immorality. They abandoned the Lord's table, breaking the bread that represents the body of Christ, hanging on the cross and sharing the fruit of the vine that represents his blood shed there as well. They instead received the table of idolatry, filling their bellies with sin rather than sanctification, just as those in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Nabat celebrated the feast of tabernacles intentionally at the wrong time. And they did all of this in the name of grace." [49:27] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "For grace. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for sin, not to excuse it for grace. Jesus conquered death, giving us eternal life. So then why do we so readily recline back into the grave by grace? Through faith, God draws us out of works of flesh and produces in us his works of love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Love doesn't mean tolerance to sin, nor does it mean abandoning mercy. This is a fine and difficult line to walk, and it can only be done in the fear of the Lord." [53:42] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "If we abstain from sin because we think the act of abstinence makes us righteous, then our abstinence is unrighteous. If we embrace sin because we think God's grace excuses it, then we are not under grace. But we are slaves to sin. But if we abstain from sin because our heart is to honor God, to love him with all our heart, soul, and mind, then his works of righteousness will cover us." [59:37] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end. Well, whose works did he say? Not our own. If it's our works, we reap what we sow. But if we keep his works following the will of the Father, then we reap what the spirit sows in our lives. That alone is glorious. But Jesus doesn't stop there. Verse 26 continues, the one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end, I will give him authority over the nations, authority to do something, not simply to stand and rule over it. It's empowered authority to do something or to work in submission to Jesus authority not autonomous from it. This again is his works in us, his empowerment and his glory." [01:05:17] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Jesus gives us the light of dawn that breaks true darkness two Peter 119 we also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart. Revelation 229 let anyone who has ears, let anyone who has ears, not just those in Thyatira, but to any who read, hear and keep the words of Jesus revelation. Listen to what the spirit says to the churches. Jesus sees all, weighs all, and rules all. So give glory to Jesus, for grace abounds, mercy is offered, and forgiveness of sin is at hand. Pursue his heart. Pursue his honor with love and reverence. His works of the spirit spirit will flow from you like a river." [01:07:02] (83 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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