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I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Is Jezebel in Your Midst?

So we come to the next church in Thyatira. “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says, this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first’” (Revelation 2:18-19).

After considering the other churches, this church was doing all right. It kept its first love, it kept the works, the truth, the service. What would the Son of God say to this church?

But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20).

I have discussed the role of women in multiple articles. We are created to be our husbands’ help-meet. It is a submissive, supportive role allowing the man to lead and us to follow.

You may say, “That’s all well and good for you. But I have leadership gifts—given by God. What am I to do with those? Bury them?”
Does God give women leadership skills? Absolutely! I just might have a few of those myself.
But God doesn’t give them for us to disregard His clear commands.
These leadership skills are not to lead men, but to mentor women.
Read this article for further Scripture and explanation. CREATED FOR HIM.

Jezebel called herself a prophetess. She claimed messages from the gods, that other prophets didn’t hear. She directed the worship.
The result?
She led all right.
She led her husband, Ahab, to be more wicked than any other king before or since.
She brought the nation of Israel into more evil than any other time in their history.
She was out of her role. And everyone paid the cost.
For a more descriptive telling, here’s a short story about Jezebel: Misled:Living under a Woman's Rule.

Are we any different today?
Woman lead worship in Christian churches.
Woman “share” during the sermon.
Woman take the leading and teaching role from men.
It's easy to say, "I'm not doing that." And feel we're okay. But what about at home? Do you correct your husband or try to change him or dictate what he can do in his own house? Who is exerting control now?

Why does it matter?
Read on.
“I gave her time to repent and she does not want to repent of her immorality” (Revelation 2:21).

Nor are today’s women repenting. They justify and rationalize what they do as God’s ministry and gift for them to do.
We give excuses why we correct our husbands. We feel that we should be their Holy Spirit, telling everything they've done wrong, at least when they've walked across your clean floor with their muddy boots! They're doing what they need to do; you are to help them. Sometimes your help is just picking of the mud they've left behind.

What happens when churches don’t repent?
“Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds” (Revelation 2:22-23).

Wonder why our churches have no power and are failing to bring people to God?
Look who’s leading them.
Wonder why men aren’t doing anything at church?
Why should they, when women lead? (There’s something inside men that hinders them from following a woman—that’s God’s design.)
Wonder why our youth don’t stay in church?
She has killed them.
Wonder why your marriage feels strained?
Your husband has nothing to do at home or with the children because you correct whatever he has tried.

Is there no good news for this church who seemed to be doing so well?
Yes.
“But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also 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” (Revelation 2:24-29).

Jezebel proclaims her message as special and sent from God.
But God declares her message from Satan. Her “message” disobeyed God's rules. Her means as ruler and teacher was wrong.

The authority given over the nations is foretold in Psalm 2:8-9. God is declared Sovereign over all kings, rulers, and nations. Psalm 2 concludes in verse 12,
“Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
The Lord is supreme.

Satan’s lies—that people can disobey God’s order and rules and succeed—will ultimately be destroyed and all will acknowledge GOD is God.
The judgment will break some (the potter’s pieces), because they listened to Satan’s lies.

When we obey God’s order and rules, we don’t become slaves, as Satan would want us to think, we are given freedom to rule the nations with God.

The encouragement to those believers who are holding fast to the truth can be seen in these verses,
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).

Fight evil (especially the evil within that wants to control). Stand firm. And look for His coming.

https://our-daily-devotions.blogspot.com/2017/06/revelation-224-29-thyatira.html

June 19-2017 Our Daily Devotions:   Revelation 2:24-29--Thyatira

 

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Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

Women's Roles
Find other articles about women's roles here:
The Sacrifice of Obedience
Why Boys Fight? And Is that Good?
Is Your Family Different?
Created for Him reprint
Gender Differences Backed by Science
What Should Men Do? reprint
Where Are the Men? reprint
What Is Man? reprint
Man VS Woman: Making Man Act Like a Woman
Man VS Woman: Is It Eqality We Seek? reprint
How Do You See Sin?
Marriage Is a Covenant before God
Are You Precious?
What's a Mother-In-Law To Do?
A Promise Is a Promise
Happily Ever After
Point Lobos, Monterrey
Where You Go, I Will Go
Protecting Our Men
What Makes a Marriage Work?
And the Two Shall Be One
Do You Let Your Husband Love You?
An Added Resource for You
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Can You Say, "No"?
Are You Losing Your Mind?
Expect Great Things from God
The Making of a Man part 4
The Making of a Man part 3
The Making of a Man part 2
The Making of a Man
What Kind of a Crown Are You?
Do You Like Your Husband?
Is Your Husband a Pushover?
Did You Marry a Crazy Man? 
Is Your Husband Crushing You?
Are You Dependent?
Male vs Female: Is It Equality We Seek?
Are You a Nag?
Do You Have a Picky Eater?
A Way to a Man's Heart Is through His Stomach
Are You Challenged by Your Man's Challenges?
Happily Ever After
Are You Appreciated?
Do You Feel Loved?
Valentine's Day: A Day for Love?
Valentine's Day: Help Your Husband Out

Submission
Created for Him
Do You Help Your Husband?
Made To Conquer

Women Working
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Margaret Thatcher, She Changed the
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Biblical Manhood
Find more articles about Biblical Manhood here:
What Is Man?
Where Are the Men?
What Should a Man Do?

Biblical Womanhood
Find more articles about Womanhood here:
What Is Your Choice?
Letting Him Protect
Are You a Friend?
Who Controls the Money?
The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving: How 
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The Power of a Smile: How To 
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Control
Superwoman: Is She Believable?

Faith
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Dear Faithful and Loyal Readers
Life Falling Apart? Try Gratitude
A Few Words about Marriage
When Suffering Gets Personal
What an Amazing God We Serve
Response to Healthy Gaming
How Miserable Are You? Are You Happy?
The Need for Meaning Even in Pain
Reminders of What's Important
God's Unmeasurable Love
A Quarter of a Century Spent for Our Country
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
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How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
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Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
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Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
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Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
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Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
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What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
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When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
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I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
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Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
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Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
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The Simple Life
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Did Your Dream Die?
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Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
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Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
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See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
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under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
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under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
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under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
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