Sermon

Today's sermon was entitled, "Jesus says, 'I Know your Kidneys!'"
The scripture verses were from Revelation 2:18-29.
Here are some of the most convicting and compelling points that I took away from the sermon:

1. Where are you today, in terms of Christian growth and zeal and love for Jesus, in comparison with where you were when you first became a Christian?
2. The Christians in ancient Thyatira were commended for increase in growth and service, however there was a toleration of falsehood and moral compromise in their midst.
3. Some in Thyatira had grown tolerant of the "woman Jezebel" and her wicked ways.
4. There is a lesson to learn from the church in Thyatira. The Christian life is an ever-upward trek towards greater heights of holiness and love and theological understanding.
5. Revelation 2:23 says, "And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to you as your works deserve."
Revelation 2:23 is an allusion to Jeremiah 17:10, "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind (in Hebrew, mind literally means  kidneys), to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
6. The word mind is the literal word for kidneys. It was often used to describe the inmost, secretive movements of the soul. Those deep inner impulses are seen with utmost clarity by the Lord Jesus.
7. God's omniscience should have a deep impact on how we live our lives.
8. Much of the Church today is suffering from "spiritual osteoporosis." There is a loss of  theological backbone.
9. It's easy to conform to the prevailing trends in our society. We are to be committed to the functional authority of Scripture; changing our behavior in conjunction with God's Word.
**Finally as Revelation 2:25 says, "Only hold fast what you have until I come."