Letters to the Churches Week 5 - Thyatira | Sunday Service 10:30am

Lydia was from Thyatira and was a dealer in purple cloths. She was converted in Philippi when she heard Paul speak (Acts 16:1-15) Paul accepted her invitation stay with her in her home and he and Silas returned to her home when they were released from prison. (Acts 19:16-40)  

Thyatira was a small and insignificant area famous for the dying of cloth.  The trade guilds were places of idolatry and sexual immorality yet essential for all who conducted business in the arts and trades.  This posed a significant problem for the Christians there as they would need great fortitude to continue in their trade and earn an income while abstaining from the idolatrous practices that were so prevalent among the guilds.  

Jesus knows that they have been growing in their love, faith, service, and endurance. He knows the level of idolatry they are facing and it is reassuring to know He addresses it with authority and with mercy. He quotes from Psalm 2 when He encourages the overcomers and this Psalm is a reminder that He is more powerful than any nation on this earth. This knowledge would help the church of Thyatira to endure and stand strong in the midst of their trials and is a comfort for us in the midst of all that is wrong in our world today. Repentance is available to us for the areas we have compromised along with strength for maintaining loyalty and commitment to Christ above all else.  

When our livlehood is threatened, we can remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit and by remembering that our time on earth is short. Our trials are temporary and our God is mighty. He will forgive us when we repent, He knows how hard it is and what we are up against. His mercies are new every morning and His love does not fail. 

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To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: 

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

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Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading **Psalm 2, Acts 16, and Revelation 2:18-29**