Philadelphia: A Call to Persevere & Know You're Loved - Lessons From Revelation's 7 Churches, part 6
Feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious? Whatever you may be experiencing, Jesus knows, and He is able to deliver you. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love. Always believe and keep His word hidden in your heart.
This message show us how those who overcome will be blessed and they will receive and enjoy all the promises of God. Jesus is the one who opens and shuts doors that no one else can open or shut. Consider the promises of God in this message and apply them personally. Allow God, by His holy Spirit, to strengthen you.
Jesus knows the intense pressure you’re facing, the trials, suffering, and afflictions. He also knows your faithfulness. Sometimes fighting the spiritual battle before us can become so consuming that we take our spiritual eyes off God. Let us not be fooled or seduced into thinking spiritual compromise or watered-down values are OK or acceptable to God.
Listen to the Spirit of God, be spiritually “on guard,” and press in: Choose today to be an overcomer, practice spiritual discipline and be guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Passionately seek the love of God and share it with those around you.
Pray, trust the Lord, and walk in faith. Always remember God is in control no matter how things may appear. People will take notice and listen when they witness your faith.
Philadelphia, a faithful church: a call to persevere and know you are loved.
Remain Faithful, Even when facing opposition
We’re almost done with our study of the seven churches that John addresses in Revelation. We’ve looked at the church in Ephesus, who had forsaken their first love; the church at Smyrna, who experienced persecution and were encouraged not to fear the second death; the church at Pergamum, where some engaged in a morally compromised lifestyle; the church of Thyatira, where some believers chose to be tolerant regarding sin and teaching that was misleading believers. The church of Sardis was a church that looked alive outwardly, but inwardly was spiritually dying.
Each church, each believer is encouraged to have an ear to hear to what the Spirit says. Each letter to the churches has given a ray of hope for the believer, and a way to live.
Each person is encouraged to respond to what the Spirit of God says to the churches. For some, it might be to repent and follow Jesus. For others, it is to keep the faith, trust, believe, or to persevere to the end even in times of suffering, no matter how things might appear.
Each individual must decide for themselves who they will follow and what they will believe. Those who overcome will be blessed and they will receive and enjoy all the promises of God.
Today we look at the sixth church: the church in Philadelphia.
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:7-13, NIV).
The believers seemed prepared to resist any temptation to compromise spiritually, unlike some of the other churches we have studied. The believers in Philadelphia chose to remain faithful to the message of Christ.
Both the believers of Smyrna and the believers in Philadelphia seemed to contend with a sector of Jews who refused to believe the Gospel message. Those Jews refused to believe but considered themselves children of God. And yet Jesus refers to them as not being children of God but rather being a part of the synagogue of Satan.
Like the believers in Smyrna, the believers in Philadelphia had no warning to remain faithful to keep from falling away. There was no reason to; the believers were remaining faithful even in the face of opposition.
The believers had no reason to fear or worry at all because they kept the command of God and were patiently enduring whatever suffering or attack came their way.
Apply the Promises of God to Your life
Jesus is recognized as the one who is addressing the angel of the church of Philadelphia.
Jesus is referred to as being holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David and Jesus is the one who opens and shuts doors that no one else can open or shut.
These pictures of Jesus indicate Jesus’ deity, His authority and power. They tell us that Jesus is holy and set apart from all other so-called gods. They speak of Jesus as being the true and only way into the kingdom of God and heaven.
It is Jesus who opens the doors of salvation that no one else can open. It is also Jesus who can shut the door and not allow anyone who does not belong in.
Jesus has the authority and power to do all he says he will do. I want you to remember this, because the remainder of the letter to Philadelphia is about what Jesus has in store for the believers, not just the believers in Philadelphia but for all the believers who remain faithful.
Jesus says:
I know your deeds (verse 8).
I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut (verse 8).
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name (verse 8).
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who are liars, to fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you (verse 9).
I will keep you from the hour of trial (verse 10).
I am coming soon (verse 11).
I will make a pillar in the temple of my God (verse 12).
I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (verse 12).
I will also write on them my new name (verse 12).
I what you to consider these promises of God and apply them personally.
Jesus has the authority and power to fulfill each of these promises. He knows your deeds and struggles. He knows your strengths and weaknesses. He has opened the door of salvation for you and no enemy of hell can shut that door.
Always believe and keep His word hidden in your heart.
Jesus knows the ones who profess to be children of God but are not. There may be some who cause you havoc; they may attempt to lead you astray at times when you least expect it. But know this: one day they will have to acknowledge the truth that Jesus loves you with an everlasting love.
One day, all who denied Jesus as Lord will bow before the throne of God. Jesus knows you have not denied his name. He will keep you safe, and remember that Jesus is returning soon. You will be given a new name. You will be secure in the presence of God and like a pillar you will stand firm for all to see.
Friends, the rewards for following Jesus are great and secure. They are everlasting and you can be sure that what Jesus and scripture proclaims will happen.
Strength Through Faith
I would like for you to focus on the second part of Revelation 3:8: I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
The term little strength may indicate that the church was small in number. It may infer that the church was made up of believers who were not powerful or “important”. Compared to others, the believers didn’t appear strong and yet what was important was not their appearance of strength, but rather their faithfulness and refusal to deny Jesus.
The size or strength of a church or believer does not matter.
It is your witness.
It is your faithfulness.
It is your heart for the gospel and your love for Jesus that truly matters.
Such a heart and lifestyle will keep you from spiritual compromise and from following lies of the enemy.
I am reminded of Paul: a man of great faith who realized that in his weakness the power of God was witnessed, and God was glorified.
“In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
It is God by His holy Spirit, who strengthens me, as I depend on Christ for all I need.
I am also reminded of the poor widow, who out of her poverty gave more than all the others (Luke 21:2-4). Jesus does not look at the amount of the gift she gave; Jesus looks to her heart.
Whatever you may be experiencing, Jesus knows, and Jesus is able to deliver you. He loves you and is returning to take you home to be with him.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:1-3).
The believers in Philadelphia are an example for us today. They knew Jesus’ words were true.
Know in your heart in whom you believe; remain faithful and watch for Jesus’ return. You will never be disappointed. His promises are yes and amen.
Suggested Praise and Worship
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