Text: Revelation 2:18-29

Dear Church,

These are the words of the Son of God.

My eyes are like a flame of fire.  They burn with passion and intensity.  I am not a pushover.

My feet are like burnished bronze, shining bright and strong.  I am not a pushover.

Dear Church,

You are growing in love, in faith, in service, and in patient endurance.

You aren’t content to stay where you are, but are continuing to do more.

Well done!

It is good to grow in love.  As you receive my love, as you learn more and more of how I love you, you should be more and more loving towards the people I have given you in your life.  You should be more gracious and forgiving. 

It is good to grow in faith.  As you realize more and more how much you need me and rely on me for everything, your faith should increase and grow as you look to me. Your troubles in life will only increase, and so your faith should increase as well.

It is good to grow in service.  I came as a servant, and your life should mirror mine. You should care less and less about your own status and recognition, and care more and more about caring for the helpless and needy in your midst.

It is good to grow in patient endurance.  I know that you long for an end to your suffering.  I am coming soon.  I will make all things good and right again.  Just hold on a little longer.

You are doing well.  Your recent works are better than the first.

As you progress, you will be tempted to look to other teachers who seem to have deeper, special knowledge and insight, even beyond what I have told you in my words.

There was a woman in Thyatira, let’s call her “Jezebel.”

The first Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, King of Israel.  Jezebel was a foreigner, and when she married Ahab, she brought her foreign gods to Israel with her.

Jezebel was known for killing prophets and for her ruthless exercise of power.  Just Google “Naboth and his vineyard.”

This Jezebel in Thyatira claimed to have deep and hidden knowledge.

And she used this knowledge to lead some of them astray into worship of false gods and to indulge in impure sexual practices. 

She was tolerated in that church and some there were seduced into following her.

I am the judge.  I will deal with her and those who follow her.

But as for you, dear church, it’s enough just to hold on.

You don’t need to advance to some higher level of Christianity.  Don’t look for a charismatic teacher who claims to have special insight.

Dear Church,

You know what you need to know.  My word is simple and clear.  Hold onto it.  Cherish it. Read and meditate on it regularly on your own and with the rest of the church.

Use my word to evaluate all of your teachers. Even if they are popular and attractive and have a huge following, none of that matters if they are teaching you lies and leading you to sin.

You have everything you need for salvation in my death and resurrection for you.  It may sound too simple.  It may sound too easy, but it’s true.

Don’t listen to those who tell you that there’s something more that needs to be added, that I am not enough.

If you conquer, if you resist these Jezebels, you will share in my authority and my judgment on my enemies.

People will be judged based on how they treat you.

I am with you.  I am in you.  When people mistreat you, they mistreat me.  When people reject you, they reject me.  When people harm you, they harm me.

There was a time when I looked helpless.  The Jewish leaders condemned me and handed me over to Herod and Pilate.  The political leaders unjustly condemned me as well.

You will be treated in the same way by the powers and authorities of this world.

My power and authority was hidden then.  When I return, my power and authority will be evident to all.  The evildoers who oppress you now will be dealt with, and you will be partners with me in their judgment.

I will also give you the morning star.

I am that morning star.  I am the light that shines the brightest in the night, even the night of sin and death. I continue to shine even when morning dawns. 

I shine brightest, more brilliantly than any other.  And my light will give you the strength to keep holding on.

So, hold on tight.  Hold on to me.  Hold on to my words and promises.

Dear Church, 

Hold fast what you have until I come.
Love,

Jesus