Jezebel In The Church
Dear Saints
How did a church with excellent record of good works, love for people, service for Jesus, faith and patience in trial, end up with an influential Jezebel?
Who is Jezebel? Even those who don’t read the Bible know about Jezebel. No one wants to be called Jezebel because it is equivalent to calling the person the devil-wicked woman. She is a cut throat, idolatrous, immoral and seductive person. She is a manipulator and will inflict fear to cause you to take to your heels. Ask prophet Elijah. Jezebel was married to a very wicked king Ahab. Read all about it in 1 King 16-21.
Let’s hear from Jesus speak to the Thyatira Church and us, about a Jezebel in the book of Revelation (please read entire chapters 2-3):
“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 heir 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.” Revelation 2:18-29
What is Jesus saying to the Thyatira Church? The church leaders are tolerating this so called prophetess who is teaching and seducing the church leaders and church members to engage in sexual immorality; and in addition to worship the sun god Tyrimnus, a prominent idol god in Thyatira. She tells them; it is no big deal. You can worship Jesus and these other gods to get what you want in this city.
There were trade unions then and to be successful, many were members and participated in their idol worship and sexual immoralities. You must blend in because almost everybody is doing so, Jezebel teaches. Everybody is not doing it. There are still remnants even in the Thyatira church who were devoted to Jesus.
Thyatira was a corrupt church which was rotten from the head down. Recently and in the past, a lot of pastors and ministry leaders have been exposed in sexual immorality and more will be exposed. In addition, we are in the midst of these churches who go all the way to compromise and tolerate sin. Their slogan is “We love everybody, and we judge nobody” as pastor Robert Jeffress would say.
There was no balance between truth and love in this church; same as the social gospel of today. We must hold to the truth of Jesus and speak the truth in love even if it does not please everyone. The world wants us to conform to their ways and if we don’t, we are labeled unloving and intolerant. There is right and wrong. There are no middle grounds.
Again, Jesus says repent; otherwise there are dire consequences. “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”.
We see the patience of Jesus with her church. He does not want us to perish but to be saved. May we approach all with the patience of Jesus and at the same time speak the truth of the Gospel that saves the sinner. In love, who can you speak the truth of Jesus today, this month and this year. Pray for him or her and speak. The time is short and running out.
Don’t be a Jezebel; and do not tolerate and succumb to the spirit of Jezebel in your churches and the society. Notice how the transgender issue is becoming a basis of commerce in USA. If you don't agree with the view point, you are boycotted.
May God help us in pushing back the darkness by preaching and living out the gospel. Amen.
Comments