But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may reside in me. Jesus Christ, the antitype has the sole authority to determine who enters His kingdom. [12] While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. The people are the same problems are the same. read more, Philadelphia: The Church of Persevering Witness, The Seven, part 13 read more, Scripture: Why? Give. The Lukewarm Church of Laodicea Do you remember the three reminders Jesus gave us through His letter to Smyrna? His purposes will not be delayed. Today we look at the last letter to the seven churches of Asia who represent church congregations throughout church history. God has given us limited strength. The death of Jesus long ago means life for us now, power to live today, and power to live forever. We want to continue on today, looking at the question, What does God think of His church? Here in Revelation 1, This may be a yet future experience, but I like to think that this indicates that some of those that were hostile toward the church came to salvation through the testimony of these faithful Christians even in the face of persecution. We're on a mission to change that. We will also see that this opening and shutting also refers to opportunities for service. He tells them plainly who he is and what he does. We can catch the flavor of the Greek word for lie by thinking of these people as . I am the King of this kingdom. The great preacher and pastor of 19th century England, Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), stated that aside from the Scriptures, his other favorite book, which he had read over a hundred times, told the story of a follower of Jesus Christ who was headed to the "Celestial City". God has given us just enough to persevere, if we know how to use what God has given us. A continuation of the bible study on the seven churches. Just as this city was built as a center for the spread of the Greek language and culture, it was also a strategic location for the spread of the Gospel. Turn in your Bibles this morning to Revelation 3:7-13, our passage for this morning. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:713, NASB95)[2], THE AUTHOR, THE CHURCH, THE CITY (Revelation 3:7). As we have studied these churches I have asked myself which of these churches are we most like and I believe it is this one. I have the key of David. In fact, it has clearly Old Testament features. Throughout the Old Testament we find God described as the Holy One. When we describe God as holy we are saying that He is completely separate from sin. Introduction: There are more than a few scholars who view the seven churches in Revelation as representative of church ages. The city derives its name from the loyalty between the two brothers who were influential in founding the city: Eumenes II and his younger brother, Attalus II. The Lord Jesus Christ goes on to describe Himself as the One who has the key of David. So far most of these descriptions have come from Johns vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in chapter one, but in our letter this morning the description of Him is unique and not drawn from Johns vision. In this study of Revelation 3, Dr. J. Vernon McGee tells us about a church that was true to the Word of God. You go into a post-Christian era when you get to Europe. We learn how to reach out to others.4, 4. Philadelphia is the only World Heritage City in the United States. read more, The Church That Jesus Loved Take note! 2 G. K. Beale and Sean M McDonough, Revelation, in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos, 2007), 10961097. Jesus says that He is the real one out of all those false ones. Listen again to the beginning of the book: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take placeblessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Persecution grows the church. Revelation 3:7-13 records the letter to the church at Philadelphia, a city about 35 miles southeast of Sardis. Again, it was probably founded during Paul ministry in Ephesus. I know your works. You can be a fake and try to make in the Christian life. A long time ago, in the 70s I took Romans at Billy Graham in Europe: An Interview with Uta Today, Europe is a predominantly secular continent, but that is not how Have churches recovered from COVID? Because Jesus Christ is holy, His church must also be holy. Look at the diagnosis of these believers, the assessment of this church, that Jesus announces, beginning in verse 8 I know your works. read more, Scripture: Remember what Jesus said to many of the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23:13But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! As a 16-year-old Romanized Briton in 406/7AD, Patrick was sold to a cruel warrior chief whose opponents' heads sat atop sharp poles around his palisade in Northern Ireland. In both ways, Jesus can protect you. While Patrick minded his master's pigs in the nearby hills, he lived Yesterday; by Alex Chapman; The Serpent Slayer - Matthew 2:13-23. Turn with me this morning to the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation, chapter 3. So there is a uniqueness to this description, but in more ways than one. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. The Church of the Open Door While Patrick minded his master's pigs in the nearby hills, he lived "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 'I know your deeds. Revelation 3:7. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. Matthew 24:1-14, Mark 13:1-13, Luke 21:7-19, 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 19:11-21 Revelation 13:1-18. Christ is the name that tells us that He is the anointed One of God, the Messiah. Second, Jesus says that the believers of Philadelphia were obedient. You are nothing but pretenders and corrupters of the truths.. He fails in the first fight in the 1978 movie Rocky. You can be a fake and try to make in the Christian life. What door is God opening in my life? The title Holy One is used as a messianic title in the New Testament. New Testament Reading: Revelation 3:7-13. We'll talk more about what that means in a minute. Their place amongst the people of God was denied. Life can be a maze of options, choices, decisions and goals. Jesus said, you have kept my word. These believers not only knew what Gods Word said, they believed it and obeyed its teachings, not deviating from the truths of the church, but they walked faithfully in them proving the authenticity of their faith and their love for Jesus Christ. August 25, 2013 Holy means to be separate, or unique. Church history tells us that some Christians from Philadelphia were martyred with Polycarp in Smyrna. It is this same Lord who has set the Christians in this outpost city before an open door which no one is able to shut. . March 25, 2012 Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Scripture The only requirement He gives us is to walk through the door and share. Again, as each of the five previous letters, the author begins by naming the church, the city and finally giving a description of Himself that identifies Him as the risen, glorified, exalted Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus exhorts the church to continue doing what they have been doing, to continue to be faithful and to patiently endure until He returns to take them to be with Him. Indignant, the affluent man replied, You cant do this, Im a This open door given by the Lord Jesus also symbolizes His giving this faithful church opportunities for service. Opening Reading: Psalm 145 Outline: Living for Christ Growing in Christ Abundant Thanksgiving Remember Lot's Wife Verses Read or Referenced in Sermon (Bold passages on screen): Philippians 2:12 2 Corinthians 13:5 Philippians 1:6 Psalm 145:20 Luke 17:32 Colossians 2:6-7 Colossians 1:9-10 Isaiah 64:6 Ephesians 2:8 John 3:3-5 Mark 10: . ATTRIBUTES OF THE LORD - Vs. 7 ACTIONS FOR THE LORD - Vs. 8 Satan and these two beasts form an unholy trinity, a mockery of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Sermon #11 Revelation 3:7-13 THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR Intro: We are continuing to move through the letters of our Lord to the seven churches of Asia Minor. No amount of banging or weeping could get the door to open. This is not a negative comment to say that they are weak, but rather He is commending them for their strength. Commendation or Praise They have kept My word, and not denied My name (Revelation 3:8), I know your works. But I think we can say that this declaration would have been hugely significant for the first readers, and should be for us as well. When you are in the midst of a season of suffering, it is a fight to feel safe. Denomination: The Passage: "The Church in Philadelphia" (3:7-13) In this passage we find the sixth letter, or mini-letter, that was dictated by Jesus to John in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Yet he had power when he hit. If I continue to endure and persevere, God will protect me. This description is the only one of the seven letters not to be drawn from chapter one. Because Jesus is unique, He is dependable. Is that what you want? read more, Scripture: And because they have patiently endured in the face of this suffering, Jesus assures them that they will be protected from a more intense and larger scale time of suffering that is coming. read more, Scripture: The Philadelphian church is the recipient of this letter. We will be firmly established as pillars, as those marked, as citizens of a heavenly city. The final promise is in the end of verse 10 which says, Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10, NASB95)[10] Because the Christians in the church of Philadelphia had remained faithful and had patiently endured through many tests, Jesus promises to keep them from the ultimate test. This is confirmed when we look at the structure of the letter: Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. -Jews. Box 1671, Buckeye, Arizona. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.. Third, Jesus said, you have not denied My name. In spite of pressures that they faced in the city, they remained loyal no matter the cost. Number two, present feelings from actual animosity can never change future blessings of affirmed affection. Like you are and will forever be stuck at a dead end of despair. What door is God closing in my life? But just a Jesus reminded the Philadelphian believers, He reminds us: behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. This is the distinction that Paul made between true Jews and false Jews in Romans 2:28-29. In America when you Later in the vision, John would record this sight Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 1 J. Scott Duvall, Revelation, ed. The city of Philadelphia was about 30 miles from Sardis. 10-11: 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. Jesus said for His second promise, I will write the name of My God on the one who overcomes. 2023 Way of Grace Church: Buckeye, AZ All Rights Reserved, Keep What is Written (Revelation 1:1-22:21)(overview), A Tour of Our Future Glory (Revelation 21:9-22:5), Way of Grace Church | P.O. This was important in the Greek and Roman world that had multiple gods and goddesses. Or youve tried to push a door open which was supposed to be pulled? Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no Let's hear this message from Revelation 3:7-13 now. Second, the testing is for a limited time, Jesus calls it the hour of testing. Third, this test will expose people for what they really are. As I said earlier, this church receives no condemnation, but instead Christ outlines four realities that characterize this church. 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