One of the first obligations any pastor has is to keep the pulpit pure. He can’t allow someone to stand in it and deliver a false word. That may sound like a control issue to you, but it’s what God demands. You see, Christ isn’t talking about sexual fornication here. He’s speaking of an evil yoke, a sensual fellowship, a giving of oneself to the power of a false ministry. And Jesus’ warning is clear: “You’re dining on an excitement that’s of flesh. It’s a lust-pleasing gospel. And your spiritual life is at stake.”
WE’VE already seen that the problem at Ephesus was a lack of intimacy with Christ. The problem in Thyatira was different. It was a flirtation with seductive, devilish ministries. Imagine the leader’s reaction when he read these words:
To the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire (
Revelation 2:18).
Jesus saw this church through flaming eyes of holy anger. Yet the letter continues with a commendation:
I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first (
2:19).
Once again, Christ is saying, “I know your deeds. Your love, faith, service and perseverance are greater now than when you began.” Best of all, the Lord tells them, “I know you love me.” He doesn’t reprimand them for a loss of intimacy with him.
But then we read these piercing words:
Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols (2:20).
Who, exactly, is the Jezebel mentioned here?
Jesus is speaking of false shepherds. He’s reproving the leader in Thyatira for tolerating covetous ministers who seduce His people: “You allow lust-filled ministers to speak freely from your pulpit. They come in as angels of light, and they use wicked deceptions to seduce my people.”
The Jezebel reference here indicates more than just ministers who are covetous. These false shepherds actually invent schemes to carry out and fulfil their lusts.
Simply put, the name Jezebel is a byword for all that’s evil and detestable in the eyes of the Lord.
What a perplexing picture we’re given. Here are a people who love the Lord, devoted men and women of God. They’ve persevered, they’ve given faithfully, and they love Jesus. How could these believers be attracted to false prophets?
How could they ever be seduced by wicked ministers whom God despises?
This may shock you, but I see this very thing happening all across this land. Wolves who are out to fleece the flock now speak in churches once known for their holiness message. When the leader is asked why he permits this, he admits, “These preachers draw a crowd. People are coming to church.” Yet he’s allowing false prophets to serve the food of Satan himself: a self-centred gospel of covetousness.
Do you note an inconsistency here?
Jesus calls the leader at Thyatira a man of love and goodness. Yet this same man tolerates ministers of abominable sin, shepherds who excite people’s flesh and cater to their lusts. They bring in wicked concepts that cause a false sense of revival. And they lead the people into demonic seductions.Deep in this leader’s heart, he knows their gospel isn’t pure. But he doesn’t want to stop the crowds from coming. And now Christ is telling him, “You tolerate these wolves’ seductions. And you’re blind to what it’s doing to your people. They’re slipping away to these preachers’ meetings. And they’re being led down to destruction. They’ve begun fornicating and eating food sacrificed to idols. But you refuse to warn them. I’ve called you to be a shepherd over my sheep, but you’re not protecting them.
Why do you tolerate this evil?
Why won’t you raise your voice?”
One of the first obligations any pastor has is to keep the pulpit pure. He can’t allow someone to stand in it and deliver a false word. That may sound like a control issue to you, but it’s what God demands. You see, Christ isn’t talking about sexual fornication here. He’s speaking of an evil yoke, a sensual fellowship, a giving of oneself to the power of a false ministry. And Jesus’ warning is clear: “You’re dining on an excitement that’s of flesh. It’s a lust-pleasing gospel. And your spiritual life is at stake.”
Remember, these aren’t backslidden believers Jesus is addressing. He’s talking to loving Christians who’d give you anything they have. But they’re attracted to a gospel of flesh. They pay heed to a subtle voice that whispers, “You have to hear this man speak.”
All through the gospels, Jesus warns of false shepherds who come seeking to devour and deceiving many. Yet I’m shocked by the lack of discernment in multitudes who abide their false gospels.
Has this happened to you?
Does your soul feed on some TV gospel that’s actually demonic?
Do you drink in a message from prosperity preachers who appeal to your lusts and take the last dimes of the elderly?
You may think, “What harm is there in watching them?
It can’t hurt me to hear what they say. Besides, it all feels like it’s from the Lord.” No! If you tolerate wicked shepherds, then you’re in bed with demons. You’re committing fornication with evil.
Don’t misunderstand: I’m not talking about every TV evangelist. But discerning Christians know the difference. Jesus speaks of such well-grounded saints, who see through the motives of flesh-driven preachers: “(They) have not known the depths of Satan” (Revelation 2:24). Christ doesn’t mince words about these money-grabbing ministers. He’s saying, “They drag souls down to the very depths of hell.” Yes, these ministers preach Christ, but not the Christ of glory. Yes, they preach a word, but it isn’t Christ’s Word. It’s a gospel tainted with doctrines of demons.
The Lord says of such evil shepherds, “I gave (Jezebel) space to repent of her fornication; and she did not repent “(2:21).
He’s saying, in essence, “I’ve been patient with these false prophets and evangelists.
I’ve given them warning after warning. They’ve had plenty of time to turn from their wickedness. But they’ve refused.” Then the Lord issues this warning to every righteous minister of His Word: Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death (2:22-23).
Jesus isn’t just talking about false prophets here. He’s including everyone who listens to them and supports them. They all end up together in an awful condition of sickness and spiritual death. Ezekiel says such believers commit “fornications on every one that passed by”(Ezekiel 16:15).
In other words: “You run after all these false ministers. But they just use you. They make merchandise of you, leaving you wounded and spiritually dead. Finally, Jesus admonishes those who’ve faithfully stood against Jezebel ministers:
“That which you have already hold fast till
I come” (2:25). He’s saying,“You’ve learned true discernment. You won’t let yourself be twisted by every wind and wave of doctrine. So, for now, just keep holding on. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived. That’s all I ask. I won’t put any other burden on you till I come back” (
see 2:24).
I wouldn’t want to be the Laodicean leader who opens his letter from Jesus. Jesus doesn’t give a single commendation to the church at Laodicea. Instead, this leader reads,
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).
What terrifying words from the Lord.
My question is, how can an entire church fall into the same dangerous condition?
How can everyone be so spiritually blinded that all of them become lukewarm? There’s no mention of a holy remnant in this body.
Christ describes them all as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (3:17). How could this be? How can anybody be miserable, poor and naked, and yet not know it?
It happened because these people were blinded by a horrible lie. The Laodiceans were very materialistic, wealthy and prospering. (This could mean increasing in numbers and influence, as well as in money.) And they were totally satisfied with them-selves.
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If you tolerate wicked shepherds, then you’re in bed with demons. You’re committing fornication with evil ... (avoid) flesh-driven preachers. |
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To non-discerning Christians, this church was thriving. People loved it and were attracted to it. But when Christ searched it out, he was appalled by what he saw. These Laodiceans were blinded by a lie. And that lie was, “I’m okay. I’m where I ought to be spiritually. I haven’t changed. I’m still the same, dedicated Christian. I’m a righteous, on-fire believer.”
Jesus says they declared of themselves, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (3:17).
To me, this congregation represents the capitalistic frenzy of the modern American church. Our nation is a capitalistic society, meaning simply, “ever-increasing growth.” And the business world has a motto: “Grow or die.” Everything always has to be bigger. So you have to possess the drive to make things the biggest and the best.
That’s fine for businesses. But this mentality has infiltrated the church. America is witnessing a “capitalistic Christianity.” The goal is no longer spiritual growth, but expansion in numbers, property, finances. And ministers are caught up in the frenzy.
Jesus’ judgment of the Laodiceans applies to many churches today: “You don’t realize what has happened to you. Your blindness has caused you to grow lukewarm. And you don’t even see it. You still think you’re hot for me.”
In Ephesus, the church’s sin was a loss of intimacy with Jesus.
In Thyatira, it was a loss of discernment, and flirtation with spiritual fornication. Now, in Laodicea, we see the worst sin of all: a loss of all need for Christ.
It all ends up in nakedness. Jesus charged the Laodiceans with their naked condition: “The shame of your nakedness (does) not appear” (3:18). The Greek word for naked here means “stripped of resources.” You see, God reserves His resources for those who are reliant on Him, who depend on Him in their need. What are His resources? They’re true spiritual riches: His strength, His miracle-working power, His divine guidance, His manifest presence. Christ was warning this self- reliant church: “I’ve stripped you of all my resources. But you don’t think you need them. You’re absolutely impoverished, but you don’t recognize your condition.”
Picture a congregation that sits comfortably through a one-hour worship service. These Christians hear a short sermon on how to cope with life’s stresses.
Then they’re quickly out the door. They don’t sense any need to be broken or contrite before Jesus. They don’t feel the need to be stirred or convicted by a piercing message. There’s no cry of, “Lord, melt me, break me. You alone can fulfil my hunger.”
Where is the zeal they had before?
These believers were once eager to get to church, to pore over God’s Word, to lay their hearts bare before the Spirit’s searchlight. But now they think they’ve outgrown all that. So they’ve restricted their Christianity to Sunday mornings. Yet it’s a religion of lukewarmness.
Jesus so loved this Laodicean leader and his congregation, He let them know He was bringing drastic measures. He told them He would create a need in them for His resources:
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent (3:19).
His loving hand was coming to chasten them. And He would do it by creating a need in them to call on His power and help.
Beloved, Christ is speaking to us with the same words today. He’s telling us, just as He told the Laodiceans: “This is all about supping with me. It’s about answering the door when I knock. And I’m calling out to you now, to come and commune. I have everything you need. And whatever quality time you spend with me gives you purchasing power. That’s how you obtain My resources. Your fellowship with Me gives you what you need to continue in ministry. It all has to come from our time together.”
This is how Christ’s church will maintain its testimony in these last days. Amen!
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Appeared in Issue CETF NR 30 2004
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
© Copyright 2006 Christian Witness Ministries, except where noted. All rights reserved
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-Last revised-
Monday, October 09, 2006
