The church at Philadelphia 6 of 7
Rev. 3:7-13
Review of 1st 5 churches
1. Ephesus- return to your first love
2. Smyrna- Have no fear of those things which are about to try you
3. Paramus- Study the word of God for yourself
4. Thyatira- Remain faithful to God
5. Sardis- Had a name that they were alive, but were dead- speak life
3-fold application- the church back then, The church today, and you as an individual
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.
Keys wherever they are mentioned in the bible represent access, and authority. If you have the keys to something, then you have control over it….car, house, safe deposit box…
Last week we talked about the powerless church (Sardis). They were powerless, because Christ had given them authority, and they were not using it. Mt.16: 19 and I will give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
Jesus has given us the keys that he possesses. And those keys are to change the things of the earth, by binding, and loosing.
Jesus gives another example of his awesomeness. By explaining himself to the churches he is letting them know who is doing the speaking. He said I am all powerful, almighty, and can open doors that no man can close, and close doors that no man can open.
It is only by the grace of God that any door which has been opened in our life has been made that way. It is God alone that gives promotion and increase in our lives. It is not your boss, your degree, and not yourself, It is he alone. He is God all by himself.
8. I know your works- just as to every other church, he tells them in Philadelphia, I know what you are up to, and exactly why you are doing what you are.
God is Omniscient-all knowing, Omnipotent-all powerful, Omnipresent-always there.
He is awesome, while you were getting ready to come to church, he was there, while you were driving in your car on your way, he was with you then, at the same time he is with your child or lost loved one, watching over them, pulling them from the wreckage. David said If I went to the depths of the earth You would be there. Jesus himself said I will never leave you nor forsake you.
He is so awesome that the trees wave to his glory during the winds of the day. The birds sing out praises to his name. Somebody ought to give him praise tonight.
Jesus said if you do not praise me then I will make these rocks cry out!
8b. behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and has not denied my name.
Jesus said I am the one who opens, and no man can shut, and shut and no man can open. And now he is telling the church, I set before you an open door, and no man can shut it.
Jesus has an open door for you, and for this church, that he is just waiting for someone to walk through. What this means is that he has given us unlimited opportunity to do things for him, and for his kingdom.
He has opened doors for you that no man can close. Gods word says it, and I believe it. If God says I’m blessed I am, that’s all I need to know. I am who God says I am, I can have what God says I can have, I can do what God says I can do.
Some of the things we go through in life, the trials, and experiences, the temptations and the pains, are just preparing us to walk through the doors that God has opened. He was preparing me! God was preparing you to be able to witness , and to minister to other people who are going through the same things that you did.
Often times we do not know why we are going through things that we are going through, but it is all for preparation for the glory of God. See God wants nothing more than an intimate relationship with his people. He does not want his children to suffer, but he does want us to be able to rely upon him.
Intimacy is knowing God, and not just knowing the scriptures. Anyone can memorize scripture. But we are reading the word of God, not for an education, but for revelation.
See in order to know him intimately, it has to be more than just typed words on a paper. It has to be deeper than that.
For example before that I got deployed, I knew that God was a deliverer, I knew that he was a strong tower, and I knew that he was my place of safety, and strength. But I did not know him as my high tower, and buckler and deliverer. He has got to become more than just a man named Jesus, but my Jesus.
He allows us to go through certain things to see where our faith lies. If you have never been sick, then it would be impossible for you to know him as your healer.
If you’ve never been alone, then its hard for you to realize that he is your friend that sticks closer than a brother.
If you have never been depressed, then its hard for you to realize that he is your peace of mind.
If you have never been broke, then you can not know him as your provider.
See God has provided an escape rout from all of the trials of this world. He has given us an open door to run through. V.8b for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. We just have to realize that all that God is doing is preparing us to minister to other people. When things get the worst is not the time to run from God, but to him. Job said ”though he slay me, yet will I worship him”
Things always appear to be the worst just before a breakthrough. When climbing a mountain, they always get the hardest to climb just at the top. When a woman is giving birth, the last few hours of carrying that baby are the hardest.
V.9 behold, I will make them of the synagoge of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
The open door that God has set before us is not just for the ministry, but also for life in general. He is saying that he wants to show favor to his people. He wants the world to see that he is the cause of the success of our lives. The joy that I have, the world did not give it to me, and the world can’t take it away.
Jesus said those who call themselves a part of what you are, I will show them what it means to have favor. You are going to be able to tell the difference between people who call themselves Christians, and real Christians. The way that you will know is because the fakes will be at the foot of the favored bowing in worship. The word of god tells us that he will make our enemies our footstool.
Jesus said I want the world to see the favor that I have put on your life. I am going to show them how much that I love you.
v.10 because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all of the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
He said because you have believed the word of my patience. I will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
The promise is because you have continued to look for me and my second coming, and have believed my word, I will keep you from being harmed in the tribulation.
Believing the word of his patience is a great thing in the eyes of the Lord. No matter what the critics may say, still pressing on for the kingdom of God, is a true testimony of your faith.
Is. 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.
v.11 behold I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
The message that Jesus is getting across here is to hold fast and keep my word continually. He is telling us that if we will just remain faithful, he will show the rest of the world what it means to be loved by him.
Hold fast and continue to keep my word. No matter what the others may say about you, hold on.
James 1:2-4 AMP. Consider it wholly joyful my bretheren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort, or fall into various temptations, Be assured and understand that trial and proving of your faith brings out endurance, and steadfastness, and patience. But let endurance, and steadfastness, and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be a people perfectly and fully developed with no defects
Lacking in nothing.
Count it all joy when you are tempted, because this is going to allow you to have a greater testimony for the power of God. This trial that you are facing now is just another rung on the ladder. The fact that there are problems only proves that you are in the will of God. Let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfectly and fully developed with no defects.
God is going to show himself strong in your life before this thing is over. 2 Chr. 16:9 For the eyes of the lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
God is wanting to show someone his favor tonight, he is wanting to show himself strong in your life. The trials and tribulations that you have been through in life were preparing you for such a time as this in the earth. His eyes have looked the world over trying to find someone that will accept what he has in store for you.
2 Cor. 12:9 Jesus said my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Gods strength can only come to action in your life when you admit that you can not make it on your own. His strength is made perfect when we admit that we aren’t strong enough.
In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.
V12-13 him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my god, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith to the churches.
God is looking for someone to show himself strong in. He wants to give you his unmerited favor, that is what grace means. It is nothing that we can earn, but it is something that we can accept.
He has set before you tonight an open door. Any thing that you could ever want is waiting behind this door. You just have to walk through. Decide tonight to make a change in your life. Decide tonight that you are not satisfied with the way that things have been going, and cross the threshold into the open door of Christ.
There was not one word of condemnation to the church of Philadelphia which is no coincidence that name of the Church Philadelphia means “brotherly love”. Jesus said I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. And the law will be fulfilled in this one command. Love one another.
Visit our website at www.rwlavere.org
