4. Thyatira- Overcome The Secret Attacks. The church at Thyatira was a busy church. Jesus even commended them for doing more than they had done at first. But in their business there was one major problem. They were tolerating “that woman Jezebel.” Evidently, there was a woman who was operating in a demonic spirit labeled “Jezebel” after the famous Jezebel in the Old Testament. This spirit attacks the Word of God and the prophet or proclaimer of the Word.
The
result of this attack is that believers are led into idolatry and sexual
immorality. (Do you see a pattern here-
idolatry and sexual immorality?) Those
caught up in this deception receive a judgment.
Note that “deep secrets of satan” are said to have been held by some of
the believers. While this can refer to
some very specific dark things, the root of the “deep secrets of satan” is thinking
we can continue to practice idolatry and sexual immorality privately while
publically being a witness for Jesus.
Overcomers are those who not only overcome the public outside attacks of
the enemy but also overcome secret, private attacks. The ones that no one knows
if you overcome them or not. Except that
Jesus knows and rewards come based on
the secret obedience we give Him. Kingdom
authority is only shared fully with those who overcome even the secret things
of the enemy.
5. Sardis- Stir Up Passion. Sardis had fallen
asleep with spiritual apathy. No
specific reason is given but the remedy Jesus gives is very revealing. He says to complete their deeds. Not obeying to the end is not obeying. Partial obedience leads to a weakening of
spiritual strength and foundations.
These folks were told to go back and finish what they had started. They were to remember what they had been told
to do, obey it completely and change their patterns of incomplete
obedience.
There
is an old saying that “faith that fizzles
at the finish was faulty from the first.”
When times get hard, it’s easy to start and then find reasons not to
finish. This indicates a spiritual
slumber that comes over our spirits. It
dulls us to the prompting and empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Walking in simple, complete obedience to
Jesus enables us to walk with Him in the white robes of the overcomer.
6. Philadelphia- Keep On Keeping On. This church is
unique because it is the only one that Jesus does not give a correction or warning. This church is right where Jesus wants them,
doing what He has told them to do. He
has opened a door for them to build His kingdom and they have walked through
it. Yes, they are tired. Yes, they are wearing down in strength but
they are not giving up. Jesus tells them
to continue to patiently endure. While
they are “keeping on keeping on”, Jesus says they are also being delivered from
further trails they don’t even know about.
He encourages them that He is coming soon so hold on to what they have
in Him.
Simple,
patient endurance is the mark of true overcomers. We sometimes get our eyes on ourselves to
judge how much strength we have or how we are doing. Jesus tells this church, who He says has
“little strength”, that they are right where He wants them to be…hold on…and it
will turn out for their best and for the glory of Jesus. Just
because we are wearing down doesn’t mean we are wearing out.
7. Laodicea- Go For Intimacy With Jesus. This church makes
Jesus sick at His stomach. They aren’t
hot. They aren’t cold. They are just lukewarm and He wants to spit
them out of their mouth. This church was
not passionate about Jesus nor were they passionate against Jesus. They
were self-deceived thinking because they had material wealth that they were
rich and needed nothing. The abundance
of material things had blinded them to their true spiritual condition.
The
answer though is not to just get rid of the material things. Materialism is not the possession of material
things. Materialism is thinking
spiritual needs are fulfilled with material things. It is living like we are living in a material
world and we are only material people (no reference to Madonna). The answer is to open up our heart’s door and
seek intimate fellowship with Jesus among the community of believers. The verse that says, “Behold, I stand at the
door and knock” is applicable to unbelievers but it is first addressed to
believers who are numbed by materialism.
So
there you have the basic necessities for being an overcoming messianic
community in a hostile world. Let’s
review them all:
- Keep Returning To Love
- Decide It’s Better To Die Faithful Than Live Denying The
Faith
- Don’t Be Blinded By Tolerance
- Overcome The Secret Attacks
- Stir Up Passion
- Keep On Keeping On
- Go For Intimacy With Jesus
To
the overcomers,
John
P. Holsey, fellow prepper
