Alright, let's take our Bibles
and turn to the book of Revelation, chapter
2. We want to continue with our study this morning. What I'd
like to do, I went ahead and put that set of notes, the third
chapter, out there because Chapter 2 of this book has got 29 verses
in it, and that was a lot of verses, and I didn't make it.
I'd like to try to do a chapter a Sunday, but I'm not going to
rush it. There's no need in that. So what
I'll do is I'll pick up where we left off last week, which
was actually beginning in the 18th verse of chapter 2. Then
if we have time, I'll go into chapter 3 and the notes are there,
and if we don't, well, we'll just start next time. Let's have
a word of prayer. Our Father, this morning, how
thankful we are for another opportunity to be able to come together,
to look into your Word, to consider these things that are so, these
things that are set forth, gloriously set forth. We pray you'd bless
us. the Word to our hearing. Blessed
we pray the preaching and these things we ask for Christ's sake.
Amen. In these letters that are written,
there are seven letters written to seven individual churches
without a doubt, seven churches in the country of Asia. But in
these seven letters written to these seven churches.
There is something taught to the church collectively out of
every letter. Every one of the letters is for
Katie Baptist Church. Every letter is to every church,
every assembly of every age. The letters that we looked at
last week The first was to the church at Ephesus. And here is
what we were taught from the church in Ephesus. We're taught
that we have two natures. Every believer possesses two
natures. One that absolutely exhibits
the very manifestation of what was done by Adam in the garden. He left his first love. The Lord
told him, you may eat of all the trees of the garden, but
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not
eat of that tree. Therefore, when Adam deviated,
when Adam left his first love, that very nature is in every
man, every woman born in Adam. Therefore, we have a nature that
leaves our first love, but we also have a nature that loves
God. That which is born of God, that
new nature, it does not sin. It cannot sin, the Scripture
says, for his seed remains in it. In the letter to the church
at Ephesus, we learn that we have two natures. One that does
exactly what Adam did, leaves her first love. One that doesn't,
and the believer knows it. To the church in Smyrna, the
second letter, we're taught that we're perfect in the Lord Jesus
Christ. In the ninth verse of the second
chapter, he says, I know thy works, tribulation, poverty,
but thou art rich. You're rich in faith. You're
rich. You're possessors of all things
in Christ. So we learn, secondly, who we
are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thirdly, to the church at Pergamos,
we find out, and this is something that we're all taught, The church
exists in this environment, in this world, in the midst of wicked
religion. Verse 13 says, I know thy works
where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is. So we're taught,
we're in a wicked world. I know that people want to think
that this world is getting better and better. It's not. We're not.
We're in a wicked world. So we've got two natures. In
Christ we're perfect. We're in a desperately wicked
world. Now today we start, verse 18,
to the fourth letter to the church at Thyatira. And let me tell
you what we're going to look at this morning. We're going
to find out in this church that we have a divine commandment. Almighty God has taught, he teaches
his angel, the pastors, the preachers, this, be truthful with men about
themselves and about who God is. Be truthful. All right, let's
begin now in the 18th verse. And unto the angel of the church
in Thyatira, right. These things saith the Son of
God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet
are like unto fine brass." This letter was written to the pastor,
as I said, who is commanded to preach to the people. You feed
the flock. Feed them what? With what Almighty
God has said. You teach them whatsoever I have
commanded you, nothing more and nothing less." Under the church
at Thyatira, this letter is from Him who is, he says, the Son
of God. This letter is from the sovereign
God and Savior of His people. This is who is speaking. He is
the omniscient One who has eyes, the Scripture says, like into
a flame of fire. We don't hide anything from Almighty
God. Now, we can kind of slip around
and hide from each other or think we are, and we do to a certain
extent. We're able to hide from each
other what's inside, but not from the Omniscient One. He said
this letter is from Him, His eyes a flame of fire burning
penetrating, seeing, he knows. The omniscient God who endures
in firmness, in stability, for he himself has walked in perfect
obedience as the elect's representative before God's own law. His feet
are likened to fine brass. Isaiah 63, verse 1 says, traveling, or that is, conquering
in the greatness of his strength, ordering the events of this world. Now, this is something that a
believer knows. There is absolutely nothing that
happens in this world outside, not only outside of the permissive
will of God, but nothing happens outside of God's own ordering
and direction. He does all things. He orders
all things. All things after the counsel
of His own will. Isn't that wonderful? I mean,
to think that nothing has happened today outside of His power, His
will, and His purpose. He's done all things according
to His will, for our good and His glory. Verse 19 says, and your patience, and thy works,
and the last to be more than the first. I know your works. I graciously take notice of the
graces that I've given you." Now, you know that without Him,
we can do nothing. We're powerless to do anything. I was thinking a moment ago before
everyone started getting here, we're getting ready to preach,
getting ready to preach the gospel. Unless the Spirit of God blesses
this message to your heart, it is absolutely nothing. It's nothing. And it will be
evidenced as that. It will mean nothing to you if,
listen, if this message that you're hearing, why is it that
there's some that sit and they hear the message of God's grace
and Christ, and their heart is just ignited, just inflamed in
thankfulness? Those that believe not, do you
wonder why? Why is it that some people are
just so excited about this message? Why? I'll tell you why. It's
because God's done something for them. He's given them a heart. And that word burns in their
heart like fire in their bones, Jeremiah says. And it's alive
to them. They hear it, and they hear something,
and it just, man, that's it. That's it. That's right. That's
right. I've experienced that. I know
that. I know what you're talking about. And to some, you hear
it and you think, I mean, it's okay, but I mean, you know, it's
not that great. I mean, it's not that exciting. Well, the reason that it's not
is because God hasn't burned that message in your heart. Now,
that's just the way it is. I'm telling you. I used to listen
to people preach and I'd think, how is it that you get so excited
about that? I mean, you know, I'm glad I
can be here and all that kind of stuff. Don't get me wrong.
But as far as it being that big a deal, it's just not. Well,
the reason that it wasn't is because God never done anything
for me. At that time, I was just going
through the motions. You know, I'm just honest with
you. He says, I know your works. He is the author and finisher
of his people's faith. Isaiah 54, 17 says, No weapon
that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that
shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness
is of me, saith the Lord." He said, I know your works. How does He know them? He's wrought
them. He's produced them. He said,
I know what they are. Your work of faith, labor of
love. He said, I know it. I perceive
it. And He says, and I know your
charity. He says, I know your love for
me," is what he's saying. I know your love for me. He said,
I know your love for my message, for the gospel. I know your charity,
your love. And I know your love for my people. People that know Christ evidence
their love for Christ by their truthfulness about Christ. I know your love. Ephesians 4.15.
But speaking the truth in love. You know, when someone says,
you know, we need to speak in love. In their minds, I know
what they're thinking. Now, be easy. Don't be offensive
to anybody. You know, because we love everybody.
Let me tell you something. You go back and read the Scriptures,
and you're taught how the Lord dealt with Pharisees, how the
Lord dealt with those in unbelief, how he dealt with those in rebellion. He went into the temple one day,
and in love, and I'm not being facetious, in love, he made a
whip, and he went in there and drove out the money changers,
and he told them, he said, this house is going to be called a
house of prayer, and you've made it a den of thieves. And he drove
them out. But let me ask you this. Did
he do anything apart from absolute love and obedience to his Father?
No, sir. He was truthful. A man that loves
you. We're commanded to love our neighbors
as we love ourselves. And I've said before, and I mean
this more sincerely than I'm standing here. I know and I've
heard the reputation that Brother Scott has gotten about his stand
for the gospel over the years. I've heard, I know, I know somewhat. I don't know it all, but I know
somewhat of what this community has said against that man. And
I'm telling you out of respect to him, this man has been truthful. He's loved this community. Why?
Because he's told them the truth. He told them the truth. Paul
says, he said, I'm free from your blood. My hand is free from
your blood because, he said, I have not shunned to preach
unto you the whole counsel of God. The Lord says, I know your
character. Paul says, speaking the truth
in love may grow up into him into all things, which is the
head, even Christ. The Lord says, I know your faith. I know your charity. I know your
love. Then he says, I know your service. I know your service. That word
service means commitment. That's what it means. I know
your commitment. I know your commitment to the ministry of
this gospel. I know your commitment to it.
You know, without Him, the Scripture says, you can do nothing. Without Him. We're going to look, especially
if I get into the third chapter before these two services are
over. I'm going to deal with this a
little bit more. But when it comes to commitment,
Let me tell you something about God's exhortation to his people. Faithfulness. Faithfulness. Without him, you can do nothing. No doubt about it. That's right.
God grants his people a heart that is faithful. Faithful to
him. This hamscam halfway On and off,
in and out, up and down, warm and hot, you know, listen, there's
no place for it. There's no place for it. Commitment,
commitment, commitment, honor. Paul says for me to live is Christ. There's nothing else. I enjoy
piddling around with artwork. I really do. I do. I mean, you
know, if I don't have anything else to do. But I'm telling you,
It's got to be second fiddle. It's got to be. It's got to be. Commitment. Commitment. Commitment. He said, I know your service. God's people are to be committed. Committed to this gospel. Committed
to the preaching of it. Committed to the support of it.
Committed to the prayer of it. Committed to it. And that's not,
I mean, I'm not Someone says, well, you're preaching law. No,
let me tell you something. Preaching law is to preach that
what you do establishes a righteousness before God. That's preaching
the law. That what you do establishes.
I'm telling you the result of what God has done for His people.
They're committed. Committed to Him. He said, I
know your service. I know your faith. He said, I
know your faith. I know that gift that I've given
you, which is that grace that is the very substance of things
hoped for. And it's the evidence of things
that are not seen. The Scripture reveals in Ephesians
1-4 that Almighty God, before the foundation of the world,
now this is what God said. Before the foundation of the
world, He chose a people in Christ. He chose them, elected them.
Before the foundation of the world, what? That they should
be holy and without blame before Him in love. Now, how do you know that? Faith. Faith is a very substance. It's
the evidence. Evidence of things that are not
seen. How do I know that? God Almighty
told me that and taught me that by faith. He said, I see your
faith. I know your faith. I know your
patience. I know your endurance and the
trials that actually works. Patience or patience is a peaceful
resolve to the will of God. are the things that we go through
in this world, hard things, chastenings. And those that the Lord loves,
He chastens. I mean, that's just the way it
is. Now, let me ask you this. Are those chastenings easy? No. No. No, they're not. I remember one time I was young,
and I've mentioned a few things about my dad. Most of you would
have really enjoyed him. He was a piece of work. I remember
one time my dad told me, I had a bicycle. He told me, he said,
you can ride your bicycle in the yard here on the driveway
and stuff like that, but don't get in the street. I was probably a hundred yards
down the road. down the street when I watched
him come out of the front door. That's what he did. Man, I had never gotten so hot
so quickly. I was riding as fast as I could.
And I thought, maybe, maybe, you know, maybe he's going to
let me off. He didn't. The penalty for disobedience
was, I can tell you this, it was a whipping. And I remember,
I can just about tell you, you give me a minute, and I'll tell
you what I got every one of them for. I can remember them. He
would tell me why he was getting ready to whip me, and I'm telling
you, he did. I mean, that's, you know, like I said, his time
out, time out was the time that he took his belt off until he
got me. That was my time out right there.
He said, I know your patience, that is, your endurance in trials
that worketh patience, that peaceful resolve to the will of God. He
did me a real favor. He did me a real favor by spanking
me. Spanking me. I may write an article
one day on what it is, on God's method of dealing with disobedience
and punishment. What does the Scripture say?
I can tell you some of you kids are not going to like what I've
got to say, but I'm telling you. He said, I know your patience
and thy works, and the last to be more than the first. Here
the Lord beholds the maturing of His people. Turn with me to
Ephesians 4. Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians
4.14. Ephesians 4.14, he says that
we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried
about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning
craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking
the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which
is the head, even Christ. The believer grows up, grows
up in Christ by the hearing of the gospel and by the gracious
chastenings at his hand. You grow up. You don't act like
kids anymore. You grow up in him, taught, matured,
If you realize something, more and more and more of the pit
from which you've been dug, the more a man is taught concerning
who Christ is, what He's done, who He is, where He is right
now, the more he knows of God's mercy and grace to him. You've
been gracious to me. God's people grow up. They quit
acting like kids. They grow up, they mature, they
hunger after Him, and they get more and more sick and tired
of the junk of this world. They behold afresh each day the
preciousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, I guess I better stop right
there. Let's take about a five-minute
break. Lord willing, we'll come back and pick up in verse 20.