Today the Smiths continue with their deep dive into the church in Thyatira. Today, they continue unpacking Christ's words to this church, who received both commendation and condemnation for the good and bad practices that were evident in this church. In many ways, it represents many churches around the world today who are doing great works, but yet are not living up to the expectations of the Lord Himself whose eyes, it says, are like blazing fire. Oh, yes, He does see and evaluate not only every church, but every follower of Himself. While some were doing great things for the Lord, others were tolerating that wicked women whom the Lord named after Old Testament Jezebel, who led many in the church into sexual adultery and immorality. LaDonna introduces a very comprehensive and powerful review of this church from theologian Pilgrim Benhem who is with the Calvary Chapel movement and serves as a professor and Dean of Students at their seminary in Bradenton, Florida. His insights, our listeners will find out, mirrors that of Craig and LaDonna, affirming that the Smiths are not somewhere out in the proverbial left field theologically, but actually stand in sync with a great number of fellow evangelical leaders, preachers, teachers, and theologians. As you hear LaDonna reading from Pilgrim's in-depth survey (yes, he is actually named Pilgrim by his momma and daddy), it will be things you've already heard about from the heart and soul of the Smiths. It's truths you can take to the bank, dear friend. Encouraging to know as you seek to honor the Lord in your own life as you live out a biblically healthy Indigenous Faith. There's one more episode to go in this timely series, and we trust you'll come back next week for the Smith's teaching on this important and relevant church in the community of Thyatira. Be blessed, dear friends!

In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna Smith continue their study of the words of Christ to the church at Thyatira. This church was commended by Christ for the fact that their works of today were greater than the works they did when they first started. So there was increasing efforts to serve their community for the sake of Christ that did not miss the gaze of the One whose eyes were like a blazing fire. But along with commendation came condemnation for a level of sin and syncretism that was so bad, it negated all the positive affirmation and blessing of God. Jesus said of them that, they tolerated that woman Zezebel who called herself a prophet. Through their engagement with this pagan woman, sexual immorality filled the church and the Lord did not like it at all. Even with that reality, a deeper dive in to the passage led to the discovery of some very godly men who had historic and expansive impact through the then known world. Men like Bernard of Clarivaux, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Anselm were all men in the Roman church who were the precursors of the Reformation movement Martin Luther brought to the church in the 1500's. These men were all from the church in Thyatira. But going back to Zezebel and her influence in the church, the Smiths remind us all that both the grace and righteous judgement of the Lord were on full display for not just her, but those who fell into her demonic arms. It says that the Lord gave her time to repent, and called those who followed her to repentance as well. It's great to know, the Smiths remind us, that God is patiently awaiting us to return to Him when we seek genuine repentance from our sins. But also, it's important to remember that while His forgiveness of our sins is total, all encompassing, and liberating to the soul, we are not necessarily delivered from the consequences of our sin. We may be plagued by those consequences for a long time after we've experienced the forgiveness of the Lord. What a sobering reminder for us to seek to walk in obedience to both the Word of God and the God who is the author of that Word. Are you catching these realities, dear friend? The Smiths pray we all do as we move forward in our Indigenous Faith!

Today Craig and LaDonna Smith begin their study on the fourth church in the Apostle Paul's church planting work in the region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). It's the church in Thyatira. Similar to Pergamos, Thyatira was a city with workers unions that were tied to pagan religions and practices. In the eyes of those throughout the region surrounding Thyatira, it was deemed to be less significant that Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos, but like every community around the world, it was, is, and always will be, of eternal importance to the Lord. So important, that He told John to write that they were accountable to the living Word of God and the living God who was the author of that living Word. The Smiths share that this church received commendation from the Lord because their current works were greater than when they first started. But with that commendation was a challenge to them because they were tolerating demonic activity through a woman who epitomized the characteristics of the Old Testament Jezebel. She was leading the people in the church into sexual immorality as part of pagan worship. This speaks to a duality of alliances that God was not pleased with. Seems like nothing has changed in the life of the church even today as syncretism abounds around the world. Once again the only thing the church could do about this is REPENT! Quite a start to another church listed in Revelation 2&3. May we all learn from these churches is the prayer of Craig and LaDonna and their Indigenous Faith heart!