#30 – Jesus Knows About The Church Of Thyatira

¹⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: ¹⁹ “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.²⁰ Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.²¹ And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²² Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.²³ I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.²⁴ “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. ²⁵ But hold fast what you have till I come.²⁶ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. ²⁷ ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received 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.” ’

Continuing on with the church of Thyatira notice that Jesus comes and presents Himself in three ways. He comes as the Savior, “The Son Of God.” He is the Savior and that He alone is worthy of worship. He comes as the “The Searching One.” He alone has eyes like unto a flame of fire, who sees all things. He sees the works of the hands and the motives and thoughts of the heart. He also comes as “The Sovereign One,” with feet like fine brass which is symbolic of judgment. Notice what Jesus commends them for…….

1. I know your works:

• Jesus has said this to the three previous churches 
• Again – Jesus knows the laboring His people do for His church
• This word means “deeds” – it speaks of them as being active in good deeds – deeds that would involve – love – service – faith – and patience

2. I know your work of love:

• We have a very pivotal command for every Christian – a command that is at the very heart of Christianity – a command that every believer knows well – and is commanded to do – (Mark 12:28-31)
• We are to love God and our neighbor “agapeo” – the highest form of love
• This kind of love must be done with all of our minds – for this to happen we must study (Deuteronomy 17:19) (Acts 17:11) (2 Timothy 2:15)
• Our minds must be filled with truth – (3 John 3)
• We can not love God as we should if we are biblically ignorant
• We must love God with all our heart – that is – with all of our emotion and affection
• The Bible is filled with emotion – (Luke 10:20) (Romans 12:15) (Philippians 4:4) (Psalm 84:10)
• We are to love God with all our soul – that is – a willingness to give over our whole life to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2) (Matthew 16:24-26)
• We must also love God with all our strength – with our spiritual gifting – our finances – our time
• Using our talents for our Lord – (Matthew 25:14-30)
• So many talents are never used for the Lord – and many talents are never developed
• To Love your neighbor as yourself – would mean to not injure him or lie to him – or steal from him – or covet his life or blessing – we must treat him/her exactly as we wish to be treated (Matthew 7:12) (Romans 13:8-10)
• Everything we do is to be done out of a heart of love or it is worthless – (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)
• And – a love that won’t act is not genuine love at all – (1 John 3:18)
• Some examples are seen in: (1 Thessalonians 3:6) (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

3. I Know Your Service:

• This could be said – “I know your ministry” – “I know what you are doing in My name”
• It’s a humbling thought – that God knows and watches what we do in service of Him
• So what should service to God look like in the life of a believer?

1. With reverence – (Psalm 2:11)
2. With a blameless walk – (Psalm 101:6)
3. With absolute loyalty – (Matthew 6:24)
4. With humility – (Acts 20:18-19)
5. With love – (Galatians 5:13)

• These qualities (and more) were probably seen by the Lord in some of the believers there
• It makes one wonder – “What does the Lord see in our service to Him?” – Does He see a servant? 

4. I Know Your Work Of Faith:

• This word refers to “faithfulness” – the believers in Thyatira could be counted on to get the job done – they were faithful and not fickle – they would have the testimony like we read of in – (Ephesians 1:1) (1 John 5:4) (1 Timothy 6:11) (1 Corinthians 16:13)
• Many times the church is tested by the Lord concerning their faithfulness to Him – they come up short
• That was not a problem in Thyatira – there was work to do and plenty of people willing to do it
• God knows our works too – He did not save us to be lazy Christians – but to be busy in His Kingdom work (Ephesians 2:10) 
• There is not room for laziness and slothfulness in God’s business
• Instead – the church of Jesus Christ is to be busy for the glory of God – not just having activities for the sake of doing something – but active in the Lord’s work – being motivated by – Exalting the Savior – Edifying the Saints – and Evangelizing the Sinner

5. I Know Your Work Of Patience:

• In today’s fast-paced society – patience is almost an unknown virtue 
• We pride ourselves on being “go-getters” and “movers and shakers” rather than patiently waiting for something to happen – we want everything done “now” — no waiting for anything
• We need the patience to wait on the Lord for Him to do His work and will in our lives
• Some of the ways that this word “patience” is used in the New Testament:

1. Patience is used in connection with “tribulation” – (Romans 5:3)
2. Patience is used in connection with “faith” – (James 1:3)
3. Patience is connected with “hope” – (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
4. Patience is connected with “joy” – (Colossians 1:11)

c. Notice the Lord’s testimony of this church – (2:19) – “As for your works, the last are more than the first”

• Notice the contrast between what was said to the Ephesians and what is said here
• The Ephesians had left their first love and were told to go back to doing the first works – Thyatira is told that their present works are even greater than their first works.
• Not only do they have they been doing theses works – they have been increasing in measure – they were growing in love growing in service – growing in faith – and growing in patience
• Their outreach and ministry to their fellow man was on the increase
• This is an area every body of believers to strive for
• Read: (1 Thessalonians 4:1)