“The Letter to Thyatira: HOLINESS” (Revelation 2:18-29)

The Minimum Factor

Imagine a barrel with several staves. Now we pour water into the barrel. What happens? You can only fill the barrel to the level of the lowest stave. Now imagine a barrel with eight staves, each representing the Eight Quality Characteristics. According to Natural Church Development, those 8 quality characteristics include empowering leadership, gift-based ministry, passionate spirituality, effective structures, inspiring worship services, holistic small groups, need-based evangelism, and loving relationships. With this analogy, you can only fill the barrel with “healthy water” to the level of the lowest stave. So to increase the capacity of the barrel, we must increase the height of the lowest stave. For instance, suppose we have inspiring worship services and strong small groups, but if we don’t have a loving relationship, its absence functions as the Minimum Factor that prevents growth. When we focus on the Minimum Factor, the church growth happens.[1]

The Church of Thyatira

I share this minimum barrel analogy because it surely applies to the story of Thyatira. Jesus said to the church of Thyatira, “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things” (19 NLT). That’s quite a compliment! Thyatira was excelling in many areas. But sadly, one critical quality was missing, that is “holiness.” The church of Thyatira tolerated a false teaching that led the saints astray. In verse 20 Jesus said, “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman - that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet - to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.” Overall Thyatira Christians were doing an excellent job for Christ. The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Very impressive! But they had a fatal minimum factor that was preventing growth and even harming the church. They neglected Christian holiness. They compromised with the false teaching mainly because it gave them an economic benefit and security. At that time Thyatira was an economic center with a large number of trade guilds. In order to retain membership they were required to participate in idolatrous practices. So the pressure on Christians living would have been substantial.[2] But then, one prophetess began to teach this message: “It is ok to participate in the cult of Rome and eat food sacrificed to idols.” That false teaching was like poisonous weed. It was like cancerous cell. Not only has the church body growth stagnated, but also it became sick.

Pursuit of Holiness

The Bible says, “Pursue holiness. Without holiness no one will see the Lord” (cf. Heb 12:14) The word holy in various forms occurs more than 600 times in the Bible. We know holiness is a good thing. But deep in our hearts, for many of us, holiness has largely negative connotations. What image comes to your mind when you think of the word holiness? To some of us it brings images of bunned hair, long skirts, and black stockings. To some of us, holiness is a series of specific prohibitions, “Don’t smoke, drink, dance, and so on.”  

But holiness is fundamentally an affection issue, not a behavioral issue. Jon Bloom, staff writer for DesiringGod, wrote an excellent article on holiness.[3] Holiness is neither a new behavior, nor a particular style of dress and mannerisms. But holiness is new affections, new desires, new motives that then lead to new behavior. It’s from inside out, not from outside in. We become holy when we spend both quality and quantity time with God, because God is holy. In Psalm 16:11 David says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” To live a holy life is to live a life before God 24/7. And when we live before God, we find eternal joy and pleasure in his presence. True holiness is a state of delight!

Repentance

Our next question is, “How do we cultivate holiness in our Christian life?” The answer is repentance. In today’s passage Jesus gives the false prophetess and those following time to repent (21). The no. 1 way to holiness is to live a life of repentance. Martin Luther’s very first of the 95 theses was this: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent,” he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance. Repentance is not the ABC of the Christian life. It’s the A to Z of it. All of the Christian life is repentance. In other words, by repentance for every day and every moment, we make progress and become holy in our Christian life.

Three Simple Rules

John Wesley was a champion who did strive to live a holy life and also to live a life of repentance. He practiced this way of living both individually and communally. First, Wesley cultivated personal holy habits marked by the following three simple rules:

Do No Harm

Do Good

Stay in Love With God

Based on these three simple rules, we can cultivate repentance, which leads to holiness.[4]  

Do No Harm. We can repent by asking ourselves these questions:

•      Have I looked down on anyone?
•   Have I diminished those who do not agree with me?
•   Have I been self-absorbed and indifferent and inattentive to people?
•   Have I guarded my heart and mind and lips in order not to wound another child of God?
•    Have I spoken or thought unkindly of anyone?

Do Good.

•   Have I honored all people as children of God?
•   Have I loved the one who hated me and prayed for that person?
•    Have I avoided people or tasks that I know I should face?

Stay in Love With God.

•   Have I spent quality and quantity time with God today?
•    Have I found strength and guidance in communion with God?
•    Have I found joy in companionship with God?
•    Have I practiced what God had said to me?

We repent, not because we just want to avoid God’s judgment. We repent, because we have grieved the heart of our heavenly father. As we practice repentance and examine ourselves on a regular basis, we are growing deeply into the character of Jesus.

Christian Conference

Second, along with his personal practice of repentance, John Wesley also cultivated communal practice, called “Christian conference.” In particular, through a band meeting – it’s similar to small group leader’s meeting, Wesley and his Christian friends cultivated repentance and holiness. In the band meeting they shared the following questions every time they met:  

1. What known sins have you committed since our last meeting? 
2. What temptations have you met with?
3. How were you delivered?
4. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
5. Have you nothing desire to keep secret?

Once Wesley said, “I have found by experience that one of these people has learned more from one hour’s close discourse than ten year’s public preaching!”[5] For me personally, I am grateful that I belong to John 17:23 clergy covenant group. Four of us – Steve Straubel, Mark Lunn, Randall Burns and I – meet twice a month. We have deep, close conversation. We share our struggles, failures, as well as progress. We speak without reserve. We confront and speak in truth. We deeply love each other and care for each other. I am also grateful that our church has active small groups. My prayer is that our small groups may continue to grow deeper in terms of the depth of our openness and multiply!

Long Obedience to the Same Direction

We need Christian conference. We need small groups that we can watch over one another in love and pursue holiness together. In November there will be a great opportunity to experience this Christian conferencing. Starting from Nov 5 to 17, Monday through Saturday, for 12 days we will meet daily in the morning at 6 am and at noon time. We will meditate on the Ephesians, pray with the Ephesians, and share communion. We will particularly pray for healing, unity and strength against spiritual warfare. Jesus promises to the faithful ones in Thyatira and in Houlton, “Hold fast what you have until I come… And I will give you the morning star” (25, 28). The morning star refers to Jesus himself. As we come and repent and seek his face, Jesus will reveal himself and give himself to us. May the Lord give us desire and strength to watch and pray! Amen.

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[1] About Natural Church Development (NCD), http://www.ncd-international.org/public/natural_church_development.html

[2] G. K. Beale, Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2015), 72.

[3] Jon Bloom, “Holiness Will Make You Unbelievably Happy,” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/holiness-will-make-you-unbelievably-happy

[4] For more details, please read Rueben P. Job’s Three Simple Rules (Abingdon Press, 2007) and Tim Keller’s article “All of Life is Repentance,” https://static1.squarespace.com/static/530e4ef9e4b07ec5e7d89c14/t/571510a8e707eb4f78eaf0ad/1460998312452/All+of+Life+is+Repentance+-+Tim+Keller.pdf

[5] D. Michael Henderson, A Model for Making Disciples (Warner Press, 1997), 119-121.

“The Letter to Pergamum: TRUTH” (Revelation 2:12-17)

Transforming Power of God’s Word

How do you experience the transforming power of the word of God today? For me personally, though I grew up in the church as the pastor’s kid, I didn’t experience the power of God’s word until I went to the army – my spiritual wilderness. There God began to speak to me. God’s word became alive, meaningful, relevant to me. I still remember that after my night-watch duty, every night I read a Psalm, prayed it, meditated on it, and recited it.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you!” (Ps 119:9-11)

    “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps 119:103)

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.” (Ps 119:147-148)

The prayers of the Psalms became my prayers. God’s word began to shape me and became a part of my daily thoughts and actions. And I still pray the Psalms every morning. By the transforming power of God’s word I am corrected, encouraged, transformed, sanctified each and every day.

The Bible says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13). The word of God penetrates to the deepest place in our lives. It penetrates to the bottom of all our defenses, all our thoughts and intentions. It lays bare and assesses what’s really there at the bottom. The word of God assesses not only our individual spiritual life, but also it does evaluate the spiritual health of the community of faith. The word of God leads us, the church, to the place where we must give account to Christ and answer the following three questions: “Where are we?” “How are we?” and “Who are we?”

Where Are We?

First of all, the word of God assesses where we are as a church. Again, the word of God does penetrate to the deepest place of the life of the church and assess what’s really happening there. In today’s passage Jesus, who holds the sharp two-edged sword, does a spiritual assessment to see where Pergamum church is. On the surface level, the church seemed to be doing ok. Though they were surrounded by a non-Christian society and pressured by the world’s standards and values, Pergamum Christians remained true to Christ’s name and didn’t deny their faith in Christ. They even had a martyr, Antipas, among them. Perhaps they might have been proud, saying, “We are the church of the martyrs.” But in a deeper level, they were a compromising church. Somehow they tolerated in their fellowship some false prophets, called “Balaamites” (14) or “Nicolaitans” (15) who were saying, “Christ redeemed us from the law. Therefore, we are no longer under the law but under grace. We may continue in sin that God’s grace may continue to abound towards us in forgiveness.” And they murmured, “Just a little idolatry. Just a little immorality. We are free. We do not have to go to extremes. It’s ok to eat food offered to idols and practice sexual immorality.” Then, they continued, “It is no use being idealistic. We are all human, you know. Christ does not expect too much from us. His demands are not unreasonable. He knows we are dust.”[1] But what Christ thinks about this matter is totally different. In fact, Jesus says that he hates the teaching of the Nicolaitans (2:6, 15 KJV).

So where are we? The Scriptures always hold love and truth together in balance. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth!” We often see two extremes. Some Christians say, “Let us drown our doctrinal differences in the ocean of brotherly love.” And they forget or sacrifice core truths of the Christian faith, such as truth about Christ and holiness. Others pursue truth at the expense of love. They become harsh, bitter, and unloving. Based on biblical Christian ethics Rupert Meldenius in the 17^th century wisely said, “We must preserve unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and charity in all things.” So where are we as a church today? If Christ came to our church today, what would he say? Let us come and see ourselves in the mirror of the word and hear what the Spirit says to our church.

How Are We?

Not only does the word of God assess where we are, but also it tells us how we are, and how we should respond to the word. The word of God gives us a remedy. After evaluating the spiritual health of the Pergamum church, Jesus says to them, “Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth” (16), that is the word of God.  

It is important to remember the story of Balaam. The Bible says that Balaam loved the reward he got for doing wrong (2 Pt 2:15). He suggested Balak that Moabite girls should entice the Israelites to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual immorality. And even one of the people of Israel paraded a Midianite woman into his tent. When Phinehas, grandson of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose, took a spear in his hand, and rushed after the man into his tent. Phinehas thrust the spear through both of them – through the Israelite and into the woman’s body. Then, the plague against the Israelites was stopped. Nevertheless, 24,000 had already died (Nm 25).  

What Balaam did to Israel in the Old Testament, the Nicolaitans were doing to Pergamum church. Still today, perverse reasoning, false doctrines, half-truths are hurting the church. In particular, many people want to hold to this false belief, “Christ has made us free. So we are free to sin. We are free to live whatever we want.” So they don’t grow. They don’t bear fruit. Then, how should we do it? How can we overcome it? The false doctrines, values, standards of the world can be overthrown only by the two-edged sword of the Spirit, that is the word of God. The word of God has divine power to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning, destroy false arguments and proud obstacle, capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ (2 Co 10:4-5). So let us be diligent to hear the word, immerse ourselves to the word with prayer, and not harden our hearts.

Who Are We?

The word of God assesses where we are and tells us how we are. Then, the word of God even goes deeper, goes to the foundation of our life and defines us, and shapes us – who we are. Jesus says to Pergamum Christians, “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it” (17). So what is the hidden manna? What is the white stone? Though several different interpretations are possible, these two precious gifts basically represent intimate fellowship with Christ. Why did God feed the Israelites with manna? It was because to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Dt 8:3) Then, in John 6 after feeding the five thousands, Jesus said to them, “I am the true manna. I am the bread of life. Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you!” What does that mean? It means unless we abide in him, and he in us, we have no life in us (56).” Too often we just want God’s gifts and blessings – health, or prosperity, or happiness. We just want more of 5 loaves and 2 fish. But they are just a “sign,” pointing to real one, greater one, the bread of life, Jesus Christ. God has a much bigger plan for us. And the best gift God can give us is more of himself, the present of his presence. We were made to have fellowship with God, to glorify God, to grow and become like Christ. In John 17 Jesus prayed for us, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (17). We are sanctified and transformed by the word of God. That’s who we are – progressively becoming like Christ!

Once one of my mentors, Dr. Timothy Tennent, shared his story about the transforming power of the word of God. As he began his ministry, he was appointed to four churches, which were completely different. One church was filled with college educated professionals. Another church was filled with local farmers. The third church was a “family” church, blood-related to one another. The fourth church was filled with merchants. Despite all of the differences, the one thing he knew they all needed was the word of God. On one occasion He had a chance to sit down with the Sunday school teachers, a lady remarked that her lesson that week was on the return of Christ. She said, “I don’t think I believe in the return of Christ and, if I did, I don’t see how it would make much difference.” Dr. Tennent was shocked. Right then and there he determined that he would teach and train his church the word of God. Over a six-year period between sermons and weekly Bible studies he was able to teach them the essentials of the entire Bible. After six years, he was saying farewell to the church. They had a beautiful service and a reception afterwards. The Sunday school teacher who had told him that she didn’t believe in the return of Christ came up to him, and they had a wonderful, long hug. As she turned to leave, then after a pause she turned back to him and said this with a smile, “Oh, Tim, by the way, I now know how important the Return of Christ is.”[2] That is the transforming power of the word of God!

My prayer is that all of us in this room may have a story to tell how the word of God transforms us. “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul” (Ps 143:8). This is my prayer. This is our prayer. Amen.

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[1] John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1990), 49.

[2] Dr. Timothy C. Tennent, “The Transforming Power of the Word of God,” https://asburyseminary.edu/elink/the-transforming-power-of-the-word-of-god/

“The Letter to Smyrna: SUFFERING” (Revelation 2:8-11)

The Second Mark of Christ’s Church

Now we study the Book of Revelation to listen to what the Spirit says to our church today. In particular, from last week we explore Christ’s pastoral letters to the seven churches. In each of the letters Jesus, the chief Pastor of the church, evaluates the spiritual health of each church and puts an emphasis on one particular aspect of an ideal church. From the church of Ephesus last week, we learned that the first mark of a true and living church is “love.” The second is “suffering.” We will learn why suffering is the second mark of Christ’s church from the church of Smyrna.

Why Suffering?

As we hear news reports about natural disasters, or as we see our dear family and friends suffer, we ask the following question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Have you asked this question? I do. And I don’t have an answer to that. What I know is that suffering is real and evil is real, but much more importantly, what I also know is that God is real, and God is in control. Probably you remember the story of Joseph. After Jacob, Joseph’s father, had passed away, Joseph’s brothers were afraid that Joseph might pay them back. But Joseph said to them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gn 50:20). We don’t fully understand why suffering happens, but what we know is somehow God allows suffering to purify us, refine us, help us to fully rely on Him. In Ps 119:71 David says, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees (NLT). Billy Graham rightly points out, “Suffering has a mysterious, unknown component. All I know from the short letters in Revelation is this: Christ commands us to ‘Overcome!’ in the strength He alone can supply….”[1] So today we will learn how we can overcome our suffering from today’s passage, the letter to Smyrna.

Suffering Within and Without

At that time, the church of Smyrna was hard pressed within and without. First of all, Christians in Smyrna were persecuted from the Roman Empire. They were forced to participate into the cult of Rome. And of course, they refused. The Roman authorities interpreted this as a disgraceful lack of patriotism and even as treachery. As a result, some of the Smyrna Christians were put into prison, some were exiled, and some were executed.

Though persecution from the Roman Empire was bad, suffering from within, that is Jewish opposition, was even worse and more bitter. First of all, Smyrna Christians had to suffer economic hardship. Both Jews and pagans in Smyrna were not willing to trade with professing Christians. They also didn’t give Christians employment. Instead, they bullied Christians, plundered their homes, and even burned their houses. Second, along with poverty, Smyrna Christians had to suffer from slander. Jewish people were spreading false rumors, half-truths, and gossip about the Christians. So Smyrna Christians were misrepresented, misunderstood and caricatured. The minds of many people were being poisoned. Smyrna Christians were hated and considered as the scum of the earth.

Poverty and slander were two major afflictions. But there was more and worse to come. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer” (10). Church history tells us that more Christians were imprisoned and died a martyr since then. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was one of them. On February 2, 156 AD, the bishop Polycarp was tracked down to his hiding place, but he made no attempt to flee. Instead he offered food and drink to his captors and asked permission to retire for prayer. Then he prayed for two hours under their surveillance. As soon as he arrived in the city, he was brought before proconsul who said, “Swear, and I will release you; revile Christ!” Polycarp answered, “For 86 years I have served him, and he has done me no wrong; how then can I blaspheme my king who saved me?” Angry Jews and Gentiles then gathered wood for the pile. The fire was lit, but the wind drove the flames away from him, so he had to suffer for a long time. Finally, one of the soldiers put an end to his misery with a sword.[2]

Faith Is the Victory

Suffering is the hallmark of the genuine church. In 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Jesus suffered. So if we want to be his follower, we Christians should be called upon to suffer. Smyrna was a suffering church because it was an uncompromising church. Smyrna Christians were willing to suffer for Christ and with Christ rather than compromise.

But here is a practical question for us: What should we do when suffering comes? How can we overcome it? We can find the answer from Jesus’ own words. In verse 10 Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid… be faithful” (10). In Greek faith and faithfulness are the same word. When we have faith in Christ, we become faithful, even to the point of death. Faith and faithfulness always go together. But faith and fear are opposites. They cannot co-exist. Faith drives out fear. So to have faith in Christ is the key to overcome our suffering.

Then, what does it mean to have faith in Christ? When I asked this question to myself, the story of Rees Howells came to my mind. I love this story. Rees Howells was born in October 10, 1879. He was affected by the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival. He and his wife later became missionaries in Africa. In the meantime there were many trials of faith and deliverances. The following story is one of them. The time came for Rees and Elizabeth to go to London for their missionary training. But the thing is that they didn’t have not enough train money to London! Now the time for the train had come. At that time Rees was with a quite a few Christian friends who wanted to see him off at the station. The Spirit then spoke to him and said, “If you had money, what would you do?’ Rees answered, “Take my place in the queue at the booking office” The Spirit said, “Then, you had better take your place in the queue.” So he did. There were about a dozen people before him. There they were passing by the booking office one by one. The devil kept telling him, “Aha, look at you! You have preached much about Moses with the Red Sea in front and the Egyptians behind, but now you are the one who is shut in!” Rees answered, “Yes, shut in, but like Moses, I’ll be gloriously led out!” When there were only two before him, all of sudden one of his friends stepped out of the crowd and said, “I’m sorry I can’t wait any longer, but I must open my shop.” Then he put 30 shillings in Rees’ hand. After he had the tickets, the people who came with him began to give their gifts all together.[3] What a glorious reward for those who trust in God!

People say, “To see is to believe.” But for Christians, “To believe is to see.” St. Augustine right said, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” Nowadays as I was praying for our church, God gave me this song, “Faith Is the Victory.” So I sing day and night:

 “Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!

O, glorious victory, that overcomes the world!”

We, as Christ’s church, are called to suffer, not to compromise. We are called to have faith in Christ, not to have fear.

Jesus Knows

The other day I climbed Mt Katahdin for the first time. I was able to make it, not because I was in a good shape, but because I was accompanied by the experienced hikers. One of them even has climbed Mt Katahdin more than 20 times. They know all different trails – how easy or difficult each trail is, and how long it may take. I just followed them. Every time I wanted to stop and quit, they kept checking on me and encouraged me. So I could make it to the top.

In the same way, as Smyrna Christians were suffering from poverty and slander because of their faith in Christ, Jesus said to them, “I know your suffering and your poverty, but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not. They are the synagogue of Satan” (9). Jesus knows. He is all-knowing. He is watching over us. Not only does he know, but also Jesus is able to help us because he has been there! In the beginning of this letter Jesus starts a letter in this way: “This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive” (8). Jesus himself was despised and rejected. He was a man of sorrow, and very familiar with suffering (Isa 53:3). Jesus tasted suffering, and he was faithful and obedient to the point of death. He both began and finished the race we’re in. Because Jesus himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us! (Heb 2:18)

I don’t know about you, but for me, when I pray for our church, I often feel like I stand before the Red Sea. But here is good news: Jesus is not asking us to cross the Red Sea or to fight with the Egyptian army with our own strength and wisdom. All he commands us to do is this: “Don’t be afraid and be faithful to the end.” So let us trust in Christ. Let us have faith in Christ. Let us fix our eyes on Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Then we will be gloriously led out and finish our race with the victor’s crown of life!

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[1] Craig S. Keener, Revelation (The NIV Application Commentary Book 20), 120

[2] John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1990), 32-33.

[3] Norman Grubb, Rees Howells, Intercessor (Lutterworth Press, 1952), Kindle location 2308-2331 of 4143.