Revelation chapter 2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent������..

Jezebel Chaste, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Zidonians, and the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel 1Ki 16:31 This was the "first time that a king of Israel had allied himself by marriage with a heathen princess; and the alliance was in this case of a peculiarly disastrous kind. Jezebel has stamped her name on history as the representative of all that is designing, crafty, malicious, revengeful, and cruel. She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle, restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain idolatry around her in all its splendour. Four hundred and fifty prophets ministered under her care to Baal, besides four hundred prophets of the groves [R.V., 'prophets of the Asherah'], which ate at her table 1Ki 18:19 The idolatry, too, was of the most debased and sensual kind." Her conduct was in many respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah 1Ki 21:1-29 At length she came to an untimely end. As Jehu rode into the gates of Jezreel, she looked out at the window of the palace, and said, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" He looked up and called to her chamberlains, who instantly threw her from the window, so that she was dashed in pieces on the street, and his horses trod her under their feet. She was immediately consumed by the dogs of the street 2Ki 9:7-37 according to the word of Elijah the Tishbite 1Ki 21:19 Her name afterwards came to be used as the synonym for a wicked woman Re 2:20 It may be noted that she is said to have been the grand-aunt of Dido, the founder of Carthage. ==============================================
The literal meaning of the word �worship� in Greek is �I serve someone with all of my strength�. So the phrase �Worship the Lord Jesus Christ� means �serve Him with all your strength�.
Our Lord Jesus established the institution of Church while he was on earth. He gave specific instructions, explained, analyzed the scriptures and left His disciples to go around the world and give to the people the good news. The message of eternal life.

He is the Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God. Everything good and perfect comes from Him. So His Church carries His seal. He was sacrificed on the Cross out of love for His Church. (Church = gathering of people)

The Bible is full of His promises for the church. A Glorious Church having Jesus Christ as the head and leader. Full of the power of the Holy Spirit (who is going to lead us in to the whole truth and help us to enter in His world) where people will come to meet Him, to worship Him, and receive from Him healing, deliverance, freedom from bondages and in general to receive a taste of His Kingdom and enjoy His presence.

In the verse 19 we read: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

We read that this Church of Thyatira (form of a church through the centuries) had a lot of good things. Works (e.g. taking care of the poor, organizing hospitals, helping those in bondages etc.) Love to the orphans, widows, single parents, alcoholics etc. Service e.g. Sunday schools, Camps, Choirs etc. Faith prayers for His divine intervention e.g. for healing, supply for the missions, etc. Patience: In the times of troubles they endured etc. And something we must take into consideration. The last works were more than the first ones. In other words this church was growing day by day. It became a powerful institution for the benefit of the society.

However in the next verse we see that in this powerful institution a woman Jezebel sneaked in and took over the control and lead the people to the wrong direction.

20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

As we read this verse we see that the Church was aware of that situation but they did not do anything. In fact they allowed those things to happen.

The questions are: �How a divine institution that represents on earth the Almighty and Holy God, that has Jesus Christ as head and the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal and protect, fall into the trap of sexual immorality and idolatry?
And:
How a powerful institution with so many works, love, service, faith and patience ended to be an abomination and come under the judgment of God?

We read in the note above for Jezebel: Jezebel has stamped her name on history as the representative of all that is designing, crafty, malicious, revengeful, and cruel. She is the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Guided by no principle, restrained by no fear of either God or man, passionate in her attachment to her heathen worship, she spared no pains to maintain idolatry around her in all its splendour.

Definitely this form of church has nothing to do with the church that our Lord had established.

The biggest fight through the centuries is against Jesus Christ who is the head of the Church. We have the direct attacks against Him. �He is not God but just a creation like us�. �He is in heaven and that he has left the people to fight for themselves.�

Then we have the side attacks. The suggestion of the enemy �If you want to pray to Jesus you have to use a mediator because you cannot go to Him.� In this case they turn their eyes from Jesus (the only way to heaven) and try to focus their attention in all kind of human inventions.

Or � You have not the right to read and interpret the Bible (your guide to know Jesus). �This is the job of those appointed by God.�

And finally we have the most vicious plan of the enemy dominating the churches. He says nothing against God or Jesus. In fact he speaks in favor.

He says: �We must serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We need His presence. We must glorify and magnify Him. We must sing to Him and for His glory. We must share the message of salvation with the unbelievers. We must go and seek the lost. We must organize missions. We must organize prayers. We must bring an impact to the society. We must live holy life�

Do you see something wrong or against the Bible or God or Jesus, in the above statements? Of course not. However here is the trap.

What are the real motivations? To please God or us. To apply our will or His will. To glorify Him or ourselves.

The enemy of our souls used this technique through the centuries in order to destroy the church. We must serve the Almighty God. �Yes.� �Of course� �Here is the suggestion� We will build a big temple, or we will form a big choir, or we will build a big school to train missionaries or, or, or,.

We must worship Him. �Yes, of course�. We will have prayers every day at this appointed hour. We will fast at this appointed day. We will sing these songs during these days and other songs during the other days.

In order to avoid havoc into the churches, one will stay there. Another will do this and another that. We will have meetings three times a week. The believers embraced the suggestions of the enemy very suitable in their relationship with the world and they forgot to go to the Lord and ask Him if He agrees.

At the end the enemy took over and Jesus Christ was left out. The system and the traditions of men became powerful and there was no space for God.

When Jesus is not the head of the Church and devil is in command all kind of wrong things are sneaking into the churches.

There are genuine people that come to the churches to drink from the pure water of Jesus and they find the polluted one of the enemy. They try to serve the Lord but they try in vain without the power of the Holy Spirit. They get discouraged and disappointed and finally they turn to other doors that the enemy has ready for them. Or if they still go to the Churches they behave like robots. No love, no peace, no joy. At the end they lose their faith, their hope, their trust in God.

Is there a solution? Yes. Jesus must take over His church. We must not allow the enemy to continue his dominion. Our Lord is the winner of the battle. The work of the cross is perfect and complete.

Stop suggesting the ways that you think are good to serve Him and let the Holy Spirit to reveal the will of the Almighty God. The leadership must be in His hands. He must appoint His people and not the system.

There are big institutions today that they are under the absolute control of the enemy and they do not see that something is going wrong. Others they form new churches in an effort to avoid the trap of the enemy and they fall to the same one again. All kind of denominations, home fellowships, and small groups are vulnerable to this attack of the enemy.

Lets wake up. Lets say: �Lord I want to serve you according to your instructions. I will forget all my ways and methods. I will not follow any human system. I will not submit to the traditions of men. Show me your way� Then the Lord will bless your work and anything you do will be fruitful. Do you want to serve Him or yourself?

There is a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. Lets take a stand.

It is not what we are going to do in order to serve Him. It is what the Almighty God is going to do through us if we allow Him.

Paul Polyrakis