“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelations 2:18-29
Today we will face the truth that we’ve tolerated Jezebel.
The church has tolerated sexual sin, ignored it, pretended it’s not there. I’ve heard pastors say, “I don’t have that problem in my congregation.” While the subject of sex is avoided, thousands of marriages and families are being destroyed. Two-thirds of Christian men and 30% of Christian women are struggling with pornography. Sexting is metastasizing in our youth; many are mired in promiscuity and porn.
In Revelations 2 Jesus busts the church: “In spite of your works, you’re allowing Satan to winnow my people with sexual sin—and you aren’t doing anything about it!” This isn’t just a church leadership issue; it is all of us. Some of you have been through the healing and recovery process yet you’re sitting on the sidelines. What are you waiting for? I challenge you to get in the fight and say, “Here I am Lord, send me!”
Today’s prayer assignment is to go to God and confess our sin as His body. “Lord we have tolerated sexual sin. From the pastor down to those of us who sit in the pews every Sunday, we’ve avoided discussing sexual issues openly and equipping your people on how to be an overcomer.”
Then, pray for those whose lives are being destroyed by porn, promiscuity, prostitution, adultery, sex trafficking, and all forms of sexual lust. Ask God to draw them to the ministries and places where they get help. Ask the Lord to equip his pastors with boldness to speak out boldly about the issue. Ask God to fight the intense spiritual battle for His people and send His warring angels to break strongholds and set captives free. Let’s go to war in prayer for those who are in bondage to Jezebel’s spell.
Then, ask Him what He wants you to do in the battle. It could be as simple as sharing this video, praying consistently for those in bondage and the ministries on the front lines like Blazing Grace, or telling your pastor about the problem and BG. Or God might want you to lead a group, set up a conference, or to take another action step.
With our country in moral freefall there must be a groundswell of prayer lifted up that’s targeted at these issues. No church that’s bowed under from the weight of its own sin can be the salt and light it’s called to be.
Remember to pray three times a day: morning, noon and at night, and at least once a day with at another person or group.
Watch the video above for more, or click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AylFtKa-Qt8
