SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
Scripture: Revelation 2:20-23

In Revelation 2:20, Jesus is confronting the church at Thyatira. He is saying, “You have become like Eli. He tells them, “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” Eli refused to restrain the evil his sons were doing. Thyatira refused to confront evil in their midst. They allowed sexual immorality as if it were biblically acceptable much like some churches do with homosexuality. Modern-day Eli’s abound. The Greek word for “allow” is eh-ah-o and means ‘to tolerate, refuse to restrain or to be passive in the face of evil.’ The fruit of teaching only Layer One of God’s love out of Matthew 5:38,39 is the church at Thyatira. It is not difficult to see how the church became so passive. It was taught from the pulpit. But when the pulpit changes, the church changes. When we change the pulpit, we change the church. When the Word, in its fullness, is preached, it produces eternal seed. And it will come forth. So once the pastors start letting each of the genuine five-fold impart its heart to the church, the fullness of who Christ is will come forth. When this happens, Christ will rise up in the church.