The Church In Philadelphia Series

Mail Call: Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13

March 25, 2012

I want to begin with a 2 question quiz! You can write your answers in your bulletin. You can’t look behind you or at your neighbor’s paper. Ready?

“How many doors are in the sanctuary?” How many ways in / out

Question #2 - “How many doors are in this entire building?”

Okay - - the answer to question #1 is 13. There are 13 doors in this sanctuary. How many got that one right? The answer to question #2 is “I have no clue.” There’s too many doors to count. I would estimate we have upwards of 100 doors. In any case, we have a lot of doors here don’t we?!

Don’t start counting the number of doors, because you’ll miss the message.

Part of this message today and next week will focus on doors. God opening, closing and knocking on doors. So, let’s start looking at the 6th of 7 churches the apostle John wrote letters to in Revelation 2-3.

Today we’re looking at the church in Philadelphia. Most people know it’s nickname as - - - the city of brotherly love. Why?

Philadelphia is made up of 2 Greek words – PHILOS means “love of a friend” and ADELPHOS means “brother.” Combine them and you get the city of brotherly love.

The quick history of Philadelphia was this - - - It was founded about 150 years before Jesus. The city was famous for its wines and hot springs. The purpose for the city was to spread the Greek culture, language and manner of life to the east. So, in a sense it was a missionary city.

This is why the city was known as the “Gateway to the East.” Philadelphia was also located near a fault line, and earthquakes were a reality and a constant threat.

Out of the 7 letters only the letters to the church in Smyrna and this one contained no points of condemnation. Let’s see what we can learn from this church.

Beginning in verse 7 of Revelation 3, Jesus said - - -

7 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.

What a great image of Jesus. John gives a quick description which could easily be the source of a number of messages, Jesus is holy and true!! Jesus is holy, which literally means He is “set apart” in the fact that He’s different. And He’s different because He was the only one who was sinless and pure, the One who could forgive us of our sinfulness. He was and is the Son of God!

And Jesus is true! Here is the true Son of God. He’s real and genuine. Its deeper meaning is - - - Jesus is who He says He is, He is Lord. In John, Jesus said - - -

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. - John 15:1

3 Jesus also said - - And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. - John 17:3

When Jesus proclaims - - -

6 I am the way and the truth and the life. - John 14:6 We believe Him. So we believe and trust Jesus is Holy and true.

So with that in mind, Jesus said He has the keys to the house. He’s the guard of the door. He’s the Good Shepherd He spoke of being in John 10. He guards and protects His sheep and only lets them in - - - and keeps out the enemy. He’s the doorkeeper, the guard of the doors. Jesus is going to open it and keep it open when He needs to; and He will shut it and keep it shut when He needs to.

In life, so many times we make comments like, “I’m praying God opens a door for me — — or “if God closes a door, He’ll open another one.”

It’s been my experience that sometimes the door is obvious and we just walk right through. Sometimes we run towards it, and sometimes we run away from it. And sometimes we need a little shove.

Now, let me be very clear here . . . if the message is something which is against God’s word, then you know that door was NOT opened by God. So, we have to use wisdom before we walk through the open door.

And sometimes we’re aided by family and friends, who give us great wisdom to guide us toward God’s plan. Or reading the Bible, worship, songs, can help give us the answer, if we’re willing to listen and be patient, trusting in God’s plan.