The Church Of Philadelphia 6 Series

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.