Gospel Dynamite with J. Allen Mashburn

The Church at Thyatira | Revelation 2:18-29 | J. Allen Mashburn

The city of Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities mentioned in the letters to the churches.  It is also the city about which the least is known. Yet, it is to this little known church in a little known city that Christ addresses His longest letter.
While not a lot is known about ancient Thyatira, some things are known and they are worthy of mention.
·         Thyatira was probably founded by Alexander the Great some 300 years before Christ.
·         The name Thyatira means “Unceasing Sacrifice”.  It probably received this name because it was a military buffer city.  It was located some 40 miles south east of Pergamos, the capital city of that province.  When enemies invaded, they would naturally come to Thyatira first.  While its location did not allow it to defend itself very well, its mission was to hold the enemy just long enough for Pergamos to prepare itself for battle.  As a result, Thyatira was destroyed and rebuilt many times during its history.
·         It was somewhat famous in its day for commerce.  There was main trade route that went through the city.  Thus, tradesmen from around the world bought and sold there.
·         Thyatira was known for its woolen industry, especially for the dyes produced there.  They manufactured a very expensive purple dye that was valued by royalty and the wealthy of that era.  This dye was obtained from a certain shellfish.  This little creature was brought up by divers; its throat was slit open; and a single drop of this dye was obtained.  That dye, coupled with the chemical composition of the water of Thyatira, made colors possible there that could not be reproduced anywhere else on earth.  This industry is mentioned in the Bible.  We are told about a woman named Lydia who is called “a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira…”, Acts 16:14.
·         Thyatira was also known for its trade guilds.  These were like the ancient unions of the day.  Workers from the various industries of the city, bakers, wool worker, dyers, bronze workers, potters, and others, all banded together to set prices, guarantee work.  To refuse to join a guild was to give up all prospects of work.  This little fact will become important as we move through these verses.
·         Thyatira was also a center of occult worship.  There was a temple in the city dedicated to fortune-telling.  It was presided over by a female oracle named Sambathe´.
      It was to the church operating in this city that Jesus sends this letter.  We do not know who founded this church.  It is possible that the Gospel was brought to Thyatira was by Lydia who was saved in Philippi, Acts 16:12-15.  Or, as some think, it might have been evangelized by believers from Ephesus.  There is one thing we know for sure.  While the church in Thyatira might have been founded by a woman, it was certainly being confounded by a woman!  There were serious problems in the church of Thyatira and the Lord comes with a word tailored just for them and their need.
      Jesus comes to this church in verse 18 and presents Himself in three ways.  He comes as:
1.      The Saving One – “The Son Of God” – He reminds these people that He is the Savior and that He alone is worthy of worship.
2.      The Searching One – “eyes like unto a flame of fire” – He comes as one Who sees all.  He sees the works of the hands and the motives and thoughts of the heart.  He comes seeing all. He comes, not as the meek and lowly Jesus, but with His eyes ablaze with anger over sin.
3.      The Sovereign One – “feet like fine brass” – Brass, or bronze, in the Bible is symbolic of judgment.  Jesus not only comes as One able to see all; He also comes as One able to judge all.
If there is one word that describes the situation we find at Thyatira it is the word “compromise”.  This is a church that has left its founding principles and has gone off into compromise and apostasy. Let’s examine these verses and consider The Church That Compromised With The World.
Remember, these letters can be views three ways: Practically – They are literal letters to real churches with real issues.  Prophetically – They speak to the church in different periods of church history.  The church of Thyatira speaks of the period between 600 AD to 1500 AD.  The time known as the Dark Ages.  Many practices here similar to Roman Catholicism.  Personally – These letters have a message for every church and every believer who will hear and heed.  A church just like every one of these seven churches can still be found in the world today.  Folks, there is a word here for us if we will receive it today.
With all this in mind, let’s turn our attention to these verses and consider The Church That Compromised With The World.

The Church at Pergamos | Revelation 2:12-17 | J. Allen Mashburn

As we study these verses, we are going to discover that this church was doctrinally pure; but they had drifted into compromise. Jesus comes to call them back to the right path. In these verses, there is a word for our hearts today. There is always the danger that we too might drift off center. There is the danger that we might hold the right doctrines, but still drift into compromise with the world around us.

The Church at Smyrna | Revelation 2:8-13 | J. Allen Mashburn

In this beautiful, wealthy pagan city, there existed a struggling Christian community.  The church in Smyrna was undergoing intense and withering persecution.  The Lord Jesus comes to them with a word of comfort for their dark days.  He tells them that even though they appear to be so week and so poor, they are, in fact, rich beyond imagination.   
Prophetically, this church pictures the terrible persecution inflicted upon believers by the Roman emperors between the years of 100 AD and 312 AD.  Practically and personally, there is a word here for everyone who has ever or will ever suffer for Jesus’ sake.  Let’s look at our Lord’s words to this struggling little congregation to find the encouragement we need to be able to stand when everyone else is against us.

The Church of Ephesus | Revelation 2:1-7 | J. Allen Mashburn

What we have before us is the first of seven letters written to seven different churches that existed in Asia Minor in the First Century. These letters could be considered from three different perspectives.
1.  They can be viewed Prophetically – These churches represent different stages of the church over the last 2,000 years.  The church at Ephesus represents the time period between the Day of Pentecost and 100 AD.  This was a time of great expansion for the early church.  It was also a time when some began to lose their zeal and fervency.
2.  They can be viewed Practically – These letters were sent to literal, real congregations that were actually functioning at the close of the First Century.  While they were written to real churches existing in that day, they still speak to every church in existence today.  
3.  They can be viewed Personally – These letters speak to congregations, but we should also be mindful that the Lord has a word for the individual in these letters as well.  He has something to say to you and to me about our relationship with Him.      

Stop, Drop & Roll | Daniel 3:16-18 | J. Allen Mashburn

Stop, drop and roll is a simple fire safety technique taught to children, emergency services personnel and industrial workers as a component of health and safety training.
Primarily, it is a method to extinguish a fire on a person’s clothes or hair without, or in addition to, the use of conventional firefighting equipment.
In addition to extinguishing the fire, stop, drop and roll is an effective psychological tool, providing those in a fire situation, particularly children, with a routine that can be focused on in order to avoid panic.
Stop, drop and roll consists of three components.
 
Stop - The fire victim must stop still. Ceasing any movement which may fan the flames or hamper those attempting to put the fire out.
Drop - The fire victim must drop to the ground, lying down if possible, covering their face with their hands to avoid facial injury.
Roll - The fire victim must roll on the ground in an effort to extinguish the fire by depriving it of oxygen. If the victim is on a rug or one is nearby, they can roll the rug around themselves to further extinguish the flame.
Most folk would agree that this is a technique that everyone should know if you ever find yourself in a blazing situation, but there are principles here that are pertinent to us as we go through our fiery trials.  Join us....

Navigating the Last Days | I Peter 5:5-10 | J. Allen Mashburn

This notice appeared in the window of a coat store in Nottingham, England: We have been established for over 100 years and have been pleasing and displeasing customers ever since. We have made money and lost money, suffered the effects of coal nationalization, coal rationing, government control, and bad payers. We have been cussed and discussed, messed about, lied to, held up, robbed, and swindled. The only reason we stay in business is to see what happens next.
The store owner knew that life was full of difficulties. But he was determined to survive, even if only to hope for the best and "see what happens next."
Christ's followers have a much better reason to endure tough times as they live for Him. The Lord has assured us in His Word that better times are ahead. The psalmist reminded us that in spite of the prosperity of the wicked, the righteous will be vindicated.
Friends, there are times when we find our lives down in the pits. The epistles of Peter were written specifically to Jewish believers, who had been scattered abroad by means of persecution for their faith in Christ.  Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is writing to help them, guide them in their walk and struggles of following Christ is a world that hated them.  Because of this background, there is much here for all of us to consider, to glean from for our help as we live in these days—the days that are dangerous for those who name the Name of Christ.  Days, that are treacherous at best, for those who dare to go against the flow of the world, i.e. Satan.  There is much here, but like any doctor will tell you, the medicine only works IF YOU TAKE IT.  This Book will only work for you, if you administer it to your life.

Conquering Compromise | Daniel 1:1-21 | J. Allen Mashburn

In the early part of this century, an American ship was wrecked off the Sicily Isles near the coast of England. The sea had been calm and the weather clear, but the vessel was caught in a treacherous current that slowly lured it off its course. Before the captain and the crew realized what had happened, the ship had crashed into the rocks.In life, too, powerful currents of compromise can catch the soul and carry to shipwreck. Spiritual drifting is usually a slow and imperceptible process. We know it has occurred when we have lost the strong resistance to evil and the passionate desire for truth that we once knew.Compromise is defines as:
1. a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.
2. the result of such a settlement.
3. something intermediate between different thing
Often, life is filled with compromises. We are given a choice as to how we will live our lives and what path we are going to follow through life. When we come to these times of decision, it is imperative that we make godly choices. Because the choices we make at the cross roads of life will determine our usefulness to God and our effectiveness in His kingdom work.Our text today is about four men who came to a time of decision in their lives. They could either compromise and go with the flow, or they could stand their ground and live for the Lord.

Five Qualities of a Good Soldier | 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 4:7-8 | J. Allen Mashburn

Recently, as a Nation we lost the lives of 13 honorable and noble United States Marines.  People who took an oath to this Country to defend and protect the Constitution, and the people of America.  United States Marines that were not even given the honor of having their names read into record in the United States House of Representatives.  United States Marines, who were willing to give all—and did.
Their commanding officers and those that love this Nation, will forever remember them as GOOD SOLDIERS.
 
I am reminded of those in the Christ's Army who have died on the battlefields of faith and of the legacy they left behind. I am referring to people like those mentioned in Hebrews 11. Great men and women of God who were good soldiers of the cross and who died on the battlefield to preserve our precious faith. 
As we think of these people who have sacrificed so much for us, I want to remind you of a very awesome truth.
One day, our lives will all be over! One day every person in this room will be just a memory to those living on this planet. 
When it comes time for you to leave this world, what kind of legacy will you leave behind? 
When people remember the kind of person you were, will they remember you as a soldier of the cross? 
The time to think about these things is now. After you are gone, it will be forever too late! 
 
As Paul neared the end of his life, he languished in a Roman prison. But, from that cell, the great Apostle took steps to ensure that he would be remembered as a good solider of the cross. 
He took the time to write to young Timothy and give him the secret for becoming a good soldier. 
It is that thought that I would like to consider this morning as we think together about the Five Qualities Of A Good Soldier.