MAKING EVERYTHING NEW—READY!
Revelation 1‐5 Overview
God is preparing his people of St. Paul for a new season of mission and service, generous of heart and rich in grace. Only the Spirit can reveal what God is doing around and will do through us. We are called not to dream big things for God, but to return to God so that he can be great among us.
It is the One who is seated on the throne who is making everything new here and now, as his Kingdom comes amidst a world (and often a church) lost in hopeless idolatry. Christ is going to lost and broken people to save them from death. He has chosen to take us along with him. What privilege! Yet we have forgotten so much of who Christ is and what he has done, forsaking our first love. The Spirit is calling us to remember the depths of his grace, repent in turning back to him, and to reflect his presence
personally and as a congregation. He has given us ears. It’s time to use them as he calls out to us through the following Scriptures:
2.23.14 Rev 1:5b‐20 “Jesus is walking here. Really!”
3.2.14 Rev 2:1‐7 “Come Back to your First Love”
3.9.14 Rev 2:8‐11 “Faithfulness Costs”
3.16.14 Rev 2:12‐17 “I Know where you Live—I’m on my Way”
3.23.14 Rev 2:18‐29 “I am Strong for you, in you, Among You”
3.30.14 Rev 3:1‐6 “Wake Up!”
4.6.14 Rev 3:7‐13 “When you See the Door, Go!”
4.13.14 Rev 3:14‐22 “Wait! Let me Back In!”
4.20.14 Rev 5:6‐14 “Jesus Rules Here—That’s why we Sing!”
“I am Strong for you, in you, Among You”
Read Revelation 2:18‐29
Think it Through…
“It just disappeared….”
Not what you want to hear on the news at the airport as you await boarding your flight. While flying recently to visit family on the east coast, the news was covering the puzzling disappearance of Malaysia Flight 370. The kind of overnight red eye I have taken myself many times. Unsettling.
And then to hear days later—mystery deepening—that appearances point to an inside job. No mere accident. Clues point to some person known and trusted by those around them, not looking like a bad guy. Worse!
238 people simply missing.
Accidents happen. But when the voices and choices of supposedly trustworthy people betray and endanger, we are undone with fear. In a broken world, that, too, happens. Even in church.
We’re reading a memo to the pastor of the church in Thyatira. It was a small manufacturing town, producing such staples as dyed cloth and pottery. From the vantage point of proud Pergamum, 20 miles away, it was an expendable buffer town. If barbarians were on the warpath, they would hit Thyatira first, triggering the defenses of Pergamum.
But in this small town the Gospel had taken root, and bore fruit of a growing church. Trend lines were up and to the right in the congregation, like a good business:
19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Revelation 2:19 (NIV)
From the 4 memos we’ve read so far, we can see how the Gospel reaches all kinds of communities and brings new life to people of every type. When Peter was led to recognize Jesus as Christ, the Savior declared that this Gospel Rock was stronger than Hell’s gates. Jesus enthusiastically told his disciples in today’s Gospel reading (John 4:35) to open their eyes and see fields of people ripe for receiving the Gospel.
It is both dramatic and decisive when the Gospel expands into new places, as Paul wrote the growing church in Colossians 1: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you” because the Father gave you “the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light,…rescued from the dominion of darkness.” As a result, they (and we) experience the “kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
What’s not to love about that kind of success? Let’s figure out ways to make more of that happen, write books, lead seminars, make God proud of us for doing so well.
WHOA!
We can never check “pride” off the danger list, regardless of how spiritual or fruitful our personal or church life might feel. Success became so important to the young, growing church in this small town that the Christians began tolerating what appears to have been a woman’s influence that resembled the infamous “Jezebel” of Old Testament days (see 1 Kings 16 – 19 and 2 Kings 9).
From times spent in Sunday school as a child listening to stories of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, to popular dramas with “jezebel” references, we are tempted to conjure up images of Cruella DeVil from 101 Dalmatians. The easy to spot, almost humorously evil villainess. But when you read this memo, SOMEONE is not laughing:
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:20‐23 (NIV)
Strong language, following such a glowing compliment. If all that Jesus said in verse 19 is true, how could such evil be happening in the same place? Because up close and in context, a “jezebel” influence makes sense. The Jezebel of Old Testament days appealed to the logic that fertility in agriculture and household was necessary for success and security. Baal was believed to be the key to prosperity and success, in spite of God’s warning to the contrary. You could “see” a Baal, but could not see God.
In the days of Thyatira, success and security were still atop the list. People had to feed their families and therefore needed to find employment in the labor guilds. So you do what it takes to meet your needs.
That likely meant paying tribute to Apollo the sun god and patron god of Thyatira. If you were going to make a living manufacturing and selling pottery, a prime industry in Thyatira, you needed to be on good terms with the sun. Apollo’s crafted figures exhibited eyes of flaming fire and feet of burnished bronze.
(Seen those words somewhere recently?)
Following Christ was a true challenge there. Where would you purchase meat? At the Jewish Kosher market, with all the regulations attached, or at the pagan temples with meat that had been offered up to demons? How would you keep a job unless you joined in the guild meetings, including “worship”
consisting of immoral sex with “priestesses” and drunkenness?
Someone in the church had gathered a following of people with a message that God certainly wants us to be happy, successful and secure. Do what it takes, and everything will be ok. God is kind and will understand our needs. So subtle—still today! How quickly and easily we forget Jesus’ words:
29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12:29‐31 (NIV)
The “Jezebel” of the Thyatira church said to go ahead and “run after all these things.” Jesus said “seek his kingdom.” WE CAN’T DO BOTH.
From the Church’s beginnings, the Spirit knew such troubles would come. Several New Testament letters confronted the problem: 2 Peter and Jude are clear examples. For now, please take a closer look at 2 Timothy 3 and 4. A couple selections follow:
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self‐control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God‐‐ 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
2 Timothy 3:1‐5 (NIV)
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
2 Timothy 4:3‐4 (NIV)
Please understand. This is the reality in the communities where we live, learn and labor. But more: it so very easily enters our church fellowship as well! We cannot assume that all who stand up front are immune. That includes Your Truly. Insiders can hijack airplanes and churches. Take to heart the Spirit’s call for each of us to grow deep and strong in God’s Word:
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God‐breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:12‐17 (NIV)
We cannot outsource knowing Scripture. Test everything you hear from me or any leader here. Jesus calls every one of us to OVERCOME . It is a battle we learn to fight IN HIS STRENGTH, NOT OURS.
The Apollo idols were just a cheasy imitation of the true Lord of Glory. Christ is the one whose eyes are blazing fire, with feet of burnished bronze. His death in our place has taken all the compromises, all the evil we’ve done by accident or intent. Regardless of how broken our track record or reputation has, this
Lord, Jesus, has completely paid the total price for our forgiveness. The very fact that he sent this memo to Thyatira, and now to YOU, means he knows you completely and loves you fully. He is calling you now to repent and return to him. Seek his Kingdom, because he knows perfectly all that you need. No idol can satisfy, no Jezebel can point the way. Only the Holy Spirit can lead you from here. In him you will overcome all. And the glorious Jesus promises you now:
26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations‐‐ 27 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'‐‐ just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 2:26‐29 (NIV)
All the “pottery” of human effort and supposed success will be smashed. One will rule when all is done.
No little statue of a sun‐god like Apollo. It is the Morning Star—the Lord God himself, blazing with glory greater than our sun. You will be able to look into his face—because he has given HIMSELF TO YOU.
Forever!
