Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to what you have to say in your Word. Give me a spirit of humility that is willing and ready to experience transformation into the image of your Son, Jesus Christ.
In His name I pray,
Amen!
Read the following passages:
Revelation 2:18-29
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority 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.’
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-23
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Consider & Discuss:
This week we have another resounding call to repentance, this time with a reminder that Jesus is “he who searches mind and heart” and gives to each of us according to our works. Just like Jezebel in verse 21, we have all been given chances to repent of areas of sin in our lives, and I’m sure each of us has responded to many calls to repentance throughout our lives.
Is there an area of sin in your life that Jesus is calling you to turn from? Take a moment and pray through Psalm 139:23-24 (printed above). Praise God for His good grace!
Jesus also calls the church of Thyatira to “hold fast to what you have.” What is he calling their family of faith, and our family of faith 2,000 years later, to hold fast to? How can we hold fast to it? What are some challenges to holding fast as we’re commanded?
**Please post your responses in the comment section below.**
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach us to repent from areas of sin in our lives and lead us in the way everlasting! By the power of your Holy Spirit, give us the ability to hold fast to the truths, ways, and works that you’ve called us to as a family of faith.
In the name of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze, we pray,
Amen!!