Taking Up Our Cross

Good morning, dear friends. It's a joy to welcome you to this moment of shared faith, a time of communion in the Word of God. We gather here, not merely as individuals, but as a community united by the love of Christ, a love that transcends our differences and binds us together as one family under the Father.

[Title: Taking Up Our Cross]

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to a passage from the book of Revelation, a book that often elicits a sense of awe and wonder, sometimes a sense of fear and uncertainty. Yet, it is in these very pages that we find a message of hope, a call to faithfulness, an invitation to seize open opportunities, and a promise of strength in the face of future trials. As we continue our series on the seven churches, we find ourselves at one of the two churches that did not receive any condemnation, the church of Philadelphia. So, let’s open our bibles to Revelation 3:7-13.

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works.

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

What a powerful passage! It reminds us of the importance of standing firm in our faith, of seizing the opportunities God places before us, and of preparing ourselves for the trials that inevitably come our way. It is not a message of despair, but a message of hope. For even during trials, we have a promise from our Lord - a promise of protection, a promise of victory.

Know that trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of. It is a wonderful thing to know that in the face of trials, we are not left alone. We are not abandoned. We are held in the loving arms of our Savior, who uses these trials to reveal our true nature, to shape us, to mold us into His image.

So, dear friends, let us now turn our attention to this message of faithfulness, opportunity, and strength in the face of trials. Let us listen, let us learn, and let us live out these truths in our daily lives.

Faithfulness to the Gospel

The essence of the Gospel is faithfulness. It's about holding steadfast to the teachings of Jesus Christ, even when the world around us seems to be pulling us in different directions. Even when friends and family are telling us how crazy we are in following a Christ we cannot see. It's about standing firm in our beliefs, even when it's easier to compromise or to simply go along with the crowd. It's about living out our faith in a way that is consistent, authentic, and true.

In the book of Revelation, the church in Philadelphia is commended for its faithfulness. Despite having little strength, they have kept God's word and have not denied His name. They have remained true to the Gospel, even in the face of adversity. This is a powerful testament to the strength of their faith and their commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Each of the letters to the churches points out things in the church then, as well as now that need correction. So, I hope that the only issue with the church of Wilmington is that of Philadelphia, where we are faithful, but sometimes feel that life is kicking our teeth in.

This faithfulness is not a passive act. It's not about simply believing in the right things or saying the right words. It's about actively living out our faith in our daily lives. It's about making choices that reflect our beliefs, even when those choices are difficult or unpopular. It's about standing up for what we believe in, even when it would be easier to stay silent.