Walking By Faith Pt. 4

A direct call issues to the charismatic church to hold together Spirit-empowered life and sober governance. Using a sports scandal as a frame, the speaker argues that moments of public failure expose systemic weakness and spur needed reform; similarly, recent abuses within some Spirit-filled circles demand both repentance and structural change. The congregation hears a theological insistence that God is not against power encounters, signs, or eureka revelations, but is calling for those encounters to be embedded in accountable leadership, sound theology, and practical guardrails—“rebar” within the foundation—so encounters lead to lasting discipleship rather than harm.

Attention is drawn to the evangelistic pattern in John 1, where true revelation moves people outward to tell others they have found the Messiah; leaders are invited to facilitate those encounters rather than hoard them. Revelation 2’s letter to Thyatira is read as a model: God commends genuine love, faith and service, yet rebukes tolerated corruption that misleads and wounds. The pastor’s vision is to be an “open-handed” church: one that cultivates daily, authentic encounters with Christ while refusing to allow abuse, error, or reckless teaching to stand unexamined.

Practical urgency follows conviction. Believers are urged to act—bringing hard, loving discipline where sin or brokenness persists, and offering restoration where repentance is real—while resisting the temptation to play final judge. The church’s role is described as both protector and healer: to enforce accountability, carry consequences, and to wrap the wounded in grace. Those hurt by Christian failure are comforted with a plea not to abandon the Body; the very community that wounded them, when reformed, often becomes the place of deepest healing. The congregation is invited to wrestle with these tensions in small groups, to take concrete steps toward reconciliation, and to steward occasions of revelation so they result in lifelong following rather than temporary feeling.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Balance Spirit with theological structure Genuine spiritual encounter flourishes when paired with theological clarity and accountable practices. Structure is not a dampener but a protective framework that prevents abuse, disciplines impulse, and channels charismata toward fruit that endures. The rebar metaphor emphasizes that governance must be internal and pervasive, not merely perimeter control. [15:08]
• 2. Protect the flock with corrective love Discipline must be exercised as restorative care, not retaliation or spectacle. The church’s task is to administer consequences where necessary while prioritizing repentance, reconciliation and the long obedience that rebuilds trust. Acting without compassionate restoration risks repeating the same harm; loving correction pursues both holiness and healing. [40:48]
• 3. Cultivate authentic eureka moments Revelation should prompt outward testimony, not inward empire-building; disciples who meet Christ are meant to be released to find others. Leaders should facilitate fresh encounters and teach people to interpret them biblically, avoiding manufactured euphoria or untested prophecy. The goal is daily revelation that deepens faith and forms lifelong disciples. [23:02]
• 4. Act—don’t only pray and wait Spiritual growth requires tangible steps: honest conversations, accountability measures, and practical changes in relationships and habits. Prayer is indispensable, but God often calls believers to use their hands, mouths, and minds to heal marriages, restore trust, and correct sinful patterns. Small, concrete actions secured by community rhythms protect both individuals and the wider Body. [37:03]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [10:48] - Olympic scandal analogy
• [12:53] - Scandal and the charismatic church
• [15:08] - Spirit with structure
• [22:31] - John 1: eureka revealed
• [23:02] - Disciples sharing their discovery
• [29:42] - Revelation 2: commendation
• [34:02] - Revelation 2: rebuke explained
• [36:40] - Call to practical action
• [40:48] - Discipline and restoration role
• [47:55] - Reflection, prayer, and small groups
• [50:52] - Final invitations and close

Bible reading
Revelation 2:18-29 (ESV)
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.
25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.
26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority 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.’

Observation questions

1. What specific things does the Son of God commend the church in Thyatira for in verse 19?
2. What is the primary issue Jesus has against this church, and what are the two specific sinful practices this false teaching leads to (v. 20)?
3. What action did Jesus take before pronouncing judgment, and what was the response (v. 21)?
4. According to the sermon, what is the role of a pastor or leader in facilitating a person's faith? [46:08]

Interpretation questions

1. How can a church be doing many good things, like love, faith, service, and endurance, yet still be tolerating something that is deeply harmful to its people?
2. The sermon describes the need for "rebar" within a church's foundation—theological structure and accountability mixed with Spirit-empowered life. [17:51] Why is internal structure (rebar) more effective than just external rules (a perimeter)?
3. Jesus gave time for repentance before enacting consequences. How does this model inform how a church should handle sin and error within its body?
4. The concept of an "open-handed church" was presented, where leaders facilitate others' encounters with Christ rather than making people live off the leader's revelation. [43:51] Why is this approach so crucial for preventing abuse and creating genuine, lasting faith?

Application questions

1. Genuine spiritual encounter flourishes when paired with theological clarity and accountable practices. [15:08] In your own walk with God, what is one area where you could strengthen the "rebar" of biblical understanding or accountability to support the "concrete" of your spiritual experiences?
2. Discipline must be exercised as restorative care, not retaliation. [40:48] Is there a relationship in your life where you've been avoiding a difficult, loving conversation about sin or brokenness? What is one practical, compassionate step you could take this week to move toward that person?
3. Revelation should prompt outward testimony, not inward empire-building. [23:02] Think about a recent "eureka moment" or time you felt God speak to you. Who did you share that with, and how did it point them toward Jesus rather than just toward your own experience?
4. Spiritual growth requires tangible steps. [37:03] Instead of just praying about a problem, what is one concrete action—using your hands, mouth, or mind—that you believe God is asking you to take this week to bring healing or restoration to a situation?
5. The very community that wounded someone can often become the place of deepest healing. For anyone who has been hurt by a church or Christians, what would it look like to take a small step of trust toward a healthy community again, rather than completely rejecting the church?
6. Leaders are called to protect the flock from those who cause hurt and pain. [42:33] How can you, in your sphere of influence (family, home group, workplace), better fulfill the role of a "protector" who enforces healthy boundaries with love and grace?