Stay focused to God's Truth or you will be corrupted

The Gathering

Wednesday October 25, 2011

“Stay focused to God’s Truth or

you will be corrupted”

Revelation 2:18-29

Theme Verse: Revelation 1:19

Author: John

Background: This book was intended to encourage Christians through the centuries, especially the Christians in the 1-3 centuries who faced the fiercest of persecution for their faith (death, homeless, etc). In the midst of these fierce persecutions, God had John write a letter to encourage all who read and give a better understanding of His plans.

Things which are

Church Age

(Present)

Background of city of Thyatira:

-1) Home place of Lydia, Paul’s first convert in Philippi

-2) Purple cloth was the cities major product

-3) Recognized for its trade guilds (Practiced idolatry)

-4) Belief that it was dangerous to read a Bible individually

-5) Thyatira actually taught false doctrines by church leaders v. Pergamos only allowed it to sink in the church

-6) Permitting “Jezebel” to institute Baal worship

(i.e. 1 Kings 16; 2 King 9)

“The church of Thyatira was a period of that emphasized the danger for individuals to have a Bible, or anyone to read the Bible to them, and that only the priests were capable of properly interpreting the Bible. Thus the church leaders ruled over the people in all spiritual matters, locking the people into spiritual darkness (Nicolaitans: clergy rule).”

--Abeka; p. 28

How do we as Christians stay focused on the Truth:

1) Don’t let the world catch us off guard

(1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

2) No compromise

(2:20-22; 1 Corinthians 11:30)

          -World’s Morality v. God’s Moral Law

…the downfall of this corrupt movement in the church will be a wake-up for the morally lax in all the churches who hear about it…

3) Understand the source of Real Truth

          -Jesus claimed to be Truth (John 14:6)

          -The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17)

          (Psalm 117:2; 119:43; 142; 151; 160)

                   -Test of the truthfulness of the Bible

                   -Opinions come and go

         

Recognize:

1) Need to meditate God’s Truth (Psalm 119:15; Joshua 1:8)

2) Need to understand how serious sin is

3) Need to understand that Truth is a person

Who holds the keys of hell and death and determines the destinies of nations and individuals (Psalms 9:16; Acts 17:31).

Questions you have to answer yourself?

Do you believe in God’s Absolute Truth?

Are you becoming convicted by God’s

 wonderful Truth each day?

Have you compromised your faith this

week or week’s past?