There was a young pastor who said he served alongside the senior pastor and he witnessed him writing 5 to 10 notes of encouragement every Monday. He sent these notes to different people in the church. At the time, he didn't really understand the importance of what he was doing. Why spend so much time doing something that seems so tedious and time consuming each week?
But he said looking back, that pastor knew something that he hadn't yet learned as a young pastor. Encouragement goes a long way in helping people in your realm of influence to keep walking strong in their own faith. Even when we don't know what's going on in a person's life, a simple word of encouragement is never out of place.
I think we all love words of encouragement. Even simple statements like “good job” and “keep up the good work” can really lift our spirits and motivate us to do our best. Words of encouragement can keep us moving forward in the right direction. What could possibly be greater than a word of encouragement from Jesus Himself? Well, the church at Philadelphia received just a word, a word that can encourage our own walk with Christ.
Today I'm going to be using Jesus' letter to the church in Philadelphia, a name that means “brotherly love.” I'll be using Revelation 3: 7- 13. But first let's pray.
So Jesus’ 6th message to the church in Philadelphia was an encouraging letter. Philadelphia was the youngest of the seven churches referred to in Revelation 2-3, but it was a place that had rich soil and vineyards. Philadelphia was about 30 miles Southeast of Sardis on a trade route running from Smyrna eastward through Pergamum, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The Greeks were convinced that their culture, language, art, and gods were superior to all others and so they set out to export them wherever they could.
Read Revelation 3: 7 - 8. So, Jesus tells John to “Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia; thus says the holy one, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens. I know your works. Look, I have placed before you and open door that no one can close because you have but little power; you have kept my word and have not denied my name."
As Jesus dictates this letter to John to the church at Philadelphia, He identifies Himself by several titles. He is the Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens.
He is stressing his absolute authority. Jesus, who is the root and the offspring of David, has absolute authority. It is Jesus and Jesus alone that has authority to let people into the Heavenly City and to be able to come before His throne. Not only does Jesus have the authority to open the door, He is the door. The salvation He made possible is the only way into the presence of God. Did you hear that? He is the only way to God. Jesus is the only way to God.
So what does all this mean to the believers in Philadelphia and to us as well. Let's take a note. A door was open for the believers, and no one could close it. We're talking about the door of salvation, the door that had gained them entrance into eternity and into the presence of God was wide open.
It wasn't open to the church because of any great ability or strength they had; in fact, Jesus noted that the church had little power. You see, power is not the issue when it comes to getting to heaven or coming before God's throne. Faith and trust are the issue. And that's what the church in Philadelphia had. Their faith was evident in two ways:
1. First, Jesus says that they kept God's word. They had remained true to what they learned and received. They hadn't allowed any distractions or the sinful culture around them to take them off course from their trust and obedience. And we can admit that the ways of this world can easily lead us astray. KEEP GOD’S WORD.
2. Jesus also said that they did not deny the name of Jesus. No matter what trials or persecution they faced, the believers refused to dishonor or deny the name of the One who saved them. I wonder if we would do the same. If someone threatened your life unless you deny Christ, what would you do? Tough question, I know.
We can almost have the invitation and response time right now. This is such an important message for us today as well. When we trust God's word to us and place our unwavering faith in the name of Jesus, that door of His salvation is open to us. And know that any power we may try to muster is insufficient and unnecessary. All we need to do is to trust Christ. Once you're saved, your eternity with Christ is secure. It was A. W. Tozer who said, “Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way.”
Revelation 3:9-10 – “Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”
Hear what Jesus is saying to the church in Philadelphia and also hear what he is saying to your heart today. Whatever opposition arose, they would prevail. Whatever you're going through in your life right now, if you will trust in Jesus, you will prevail also. I know it seems hard for you to believe at this moment, but God tells you that if you trust in Jesus, you will prevail.
No matter how hard it had been, they had remained strong in their relationship with Christ. As a result, Jesus promised them the protection that only He could bring. In verse 10 He said, “I will also keep you from the hour of testing that's going to come on the whole world.” This is a prophecy that hasn’t occurred yet.
There is a debate between scholars as to the true meaning of the words “keep you from” in verse 10. Most believe that Jesus is speaking of the Great tribulation. Our belief is that the Great tribulation will only come after the rapture. If you are a Christian, you will be lifted up from this Earth to be with Jesus and all those who have gone before us. Then the tribulation period starts. What this says to me is that Jesus Christ is going to remove his followers from this time of tribulation and will protect all of his children from experiencing the wrath that comes during the time of tribulation. The main thing is that Christ promises protection for those who endure.
When you were in school, you might remember that when the teacher told you to pay attention and take note of something, they were about to tell us something very important. This always told me that what they were about to say was going to be on a test. So, I made sure to write it down and take note. If it was important enough for us to pay attention when a teacher said take note it's especially important when Jesus says “note this” in verse 9.
Jesus wanted the church in Philadelphia to take note of what would happen to the Jews. He spoke of those who opposed the church's witness as the “synagogue of s
Satan.” While these individuals may have claimed to be Jewish, because of their rejection of Jesus as God's Messiah and their persecution of His church, they showed themselves to be allies with Satan. So, Jesus identifies them as counterfeits, as liars. They had rejected Christ, but they would one day recognize and acknowledge the truth of who Christ is.
To those in our world today who claim to be atheists, they really need to hear these words. They need to heed these words. The Bible reminds us that there will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Whether they do so now or not, the day will come when they will. Why should we listen and heed what the Bible is telling us now?
Revelation 3:11 – “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” These believers have been faithful to keep His word, but they would still face persecution. So, Jesus tells them to keep a firm grip on the truth they had received. They would have stayed loyal to the Lord as they lived out their faith. They were to make sure that no one took their crown. We are promised a crown in the Bible. The apostle Paul said “there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 8.
Now hear what the Bible is telling us. Jesus spoke of this same crown in his letter to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:10. This crown was a Garland of flowers awarded to the victors in war and athletic competitions. The crown represents the believer's victory over sin and the world.
Jesus didn't want the believers in Philadelphia to fall victim either to Satan's traps or the lures and temptations of the pagan society in which they lived. Doing so would have robbed them of their reward. But if they remain strong in their faith and their devotion to Christ, 1 Peter 5:4 says, “when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
Difficulties and trials and troubles and tribulations may come, but Jesus promised, I am coming soon. You may say that Jesus said this a couple of thousand years ago so he hasn't kept his promise, but that's not the case. From the perspective of eternity, Christ's return will be soon!
Revelation 3:12 – 13 – “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. 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. 13 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Jesus's words in verse 12 were meant to encourage the early believers of Philadelphia. They were meant to be words of encouragement for us as well. To the one who finishes the race, Christ will make the victor a pillar in the temple of my God.
This was a promise of security in the presence of God, and it might have been especially meaningful to the church at Philadelphia. They had experienced a devastating earthquake in 17AD, and the inhabitants continued to feel tremors for years. Even today, the only thing that remains from some of the ancient temples are the massive pillars. But can you see why Jesus used the pillar as a symbol here? The promise from Jesus is that believers are secure and unmovable in God's eternal presence.
So, if you remain faithful to Christ, He says He will make you a pillar and He will write on you the name of His God and the name of the city of his God. Many pillars in the ancient temples had names inscribed on them of special people who were prominent either in the temple or in the city. We do something similar today when we put people's names on buildings.
Christ is going to identify those who belong to Him. This was quite significant to those in the church at Philadelphia. They had been pretty much outcasts in the city, but Christ promised they would be recognized as worthy in His kingdom.
So, where do you stand in the world today? When you step away from the church this morning and out into the world, do you blend in with the world or do you stand out as a Christ follower?
Philippians 3:18-20 – “For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the midst of all the trials and opposition, the believers in Philadelphia were offered a message of Hope. And so are we. They would one day spend eternity with the Lord. God is calling us to stand out in this world we live in.
The city of Philadelphia went through many name changes in its history, and the people of God cherish the idea that God himself chose to identify with them and assure them of a new name and a permanent citizenship in heaven.
But you know what? We have that same opportunity. No matter what we face in life, as a child of God who belongs to Him, Christ assures us that we have been given a new name and citizenship in His kingdom. We too have to continue to hold on to the truth. We are living in uncertain times, but the promises of God and the provisions from God are just as real today as they were in the church in Philadelphia.
This promise that we read about today was meant to be a comfort to the Philadelphia believers, and it should comfort us too. So, Jesus calls us as believers to hold on to what you have because the challenges we face in the Christian Life will soon be over. No matter how uncertain the days are ahead for us, we can rest assured that Christ is coming again. Remember He tells us today I am coming soon. When He comes, we, His people, will be ultimately delivered from any and all trials, persecutions, and difficulties.
I praise God there is a way out of this mess that the world is in. Christ has provided the way. He is the only way. Do you know Him? If not, make your decision for Him today and ask Him to be your Savior. Let's pray.
