A Responsive Church in a Changing Society: Philadelphia

Text: Revelation 3:7-13

Theme: The Lord of glory has a message for his church today: When He presents us with an open door, we'd better step through it before it is shut in our face.

Date: 07/16/2023 Title: Responsive_Church_06-Philadelphia.wpd ID: NT27-03

Far too many Christians believe that God’s only plan is to bless them so they are happy and well off and successful. That is what they often pray for. Back in the year 2,000 a little devotional book, The Prayer of Jabez, took the Evangelical world by storm. The prayer is a simple one: "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested." Most Christians are good at that type of praying — we love to pray for blessing, and success, and freedom from pain. I’m not telling you to not pray that kind of prayer. But I have a question for you ... how many of us are willing to pray for God to use us, no matter the cost? To pray daily, “Today, Jesus, I will take up the cross and follow you wherever it might lead me?”

We have been looking at Christ’s message to each of seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

1st, we looked at the church of Ephesus. It was a CARELESS church. This was a large church, an active, working church, a well-taught church, a weathered church, that had faced hard trials. Yet Jesus rebukes this congregation because they had lost their passionate love for God.

2nd, we looked at the church at Smyrna. It was a CRUSHED church and a CROWNED church. They faced pressure and poverty and putdowns, but they faithfully endured, and so they received commendation from the Lord. The Lord tells them that persecution will come, but to continue to live faithfully and He would reward them greatly. We need to be faithful, even when life gets difficult.

3rd, Jesus spoke to the church at Pergamum. It was a COMPROMISING church. It was a city where Satan had set up camp; but the church had tolerated Satan’s presence. We need to make sure that we do not compromise with or tolerate evil within the Church.

4th, we looked at the church at Thyatira. It was a CORRUPT church. The people had followed a self-proclaimed prophetess who taught them to deny the truth, and the people accepted the teaching. We learned that we cannot allow ourselves to follow any false teaching that would lead us to embrace sin, but rather we need to lead holy lives. We are in the world, but not of the world.

5th, last week we looked at the church at Sardis. It was a CRIPPLED church. This was a church that looked good from the outside, in fact it had a good reputation, but Jesus saw them as they really were, dying and almost dead. It’s the church every congregation assumes it is not even when it is.

6th, this morning we want to look at one of the best of the seven churches, the church at Philadelphia. It was a COMMITTED church. It's the church every congregation assumes it is even when it is not. Let’s look at Christ’s message to this church in Revelation 3:1-6.

I. THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA HAD LITTLE POWER, BUT BIG INFLUENCE

1. the city of Philadelphia was a city set on a hill that defended the post road that ran through the Hermus Valley

2. it was named after its founder, Attalus Philadelphus

a. his name literally means "Attalus the brother-loving"

1) he was co-ruler of the Kingdom of Pergamon with his older brother Eumenes

b. Attalus was so devoted to his brother that the term philadelpha became a synonymous for "brotherly love"

3. the Christians of Philadelphia adopted the city's original purpose as a model for their ministry

ILLUS. The city of Philadelphia had been founded by Attalus’ father as a cultural outpost to spread Greek language, and culture into the hinterlands of what is now western Turkey, but then the Kingdom of Lydia. The goal was to show the “uncivilized” tribes the splendor and glory of Greek culture. The city’s mission was such a success that by the time a Christian Church had been planted in Philadelphia the entire region had converted to the ways of Greek culture, and adopted the Greek language. Now, the Christians of Philadelphia where attempting to do spiritually what the city had accomplished culturally — to use the city as an outpost to Christianize their part of the world.

a. though it was a small congregations their presence was like a city set atop a hill — it could not be ignored

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

4. here was a church that, according to vs. 8 had "little strength" yet it was powerful in its influence

a. what this means is that the church was small, poor and insignificant by the world’s standards

1) but it was a church that impacted its community for Christ

b. when archeologists excavated the old city of Philadelphia Christian symbols were found throughout the city as were the ruins of 25 house-churches

5. why was the church so successful in our Lord’s eyes?

A. JESUS CHRIST WAS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 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." (Revelation 3:7, NIV)

1. Jesus makes it very clear to his people that he is Messiah, God’s Anointed One — the Holy One who holds the keys of salvation and the kingdom

2. evidently the church at Philadelphia, like the church at Smyrna, was being persecuted by the Jews of the community

a. the church's message that Jesus Christ was "the way, the truth and the life" did not set well with members of the Jewish Synagogue who believed that Jesus was a blasphemer, and a false prophet who was justly executed by their brothers in Jerusalem

3. the term "holy one" was a phrase used by the Jews to designate God’s Messiah

a. some 48 times in the O.T. the Scriptures speak of "the Holy One" or “the Holy One of Israel”

b. Jesus Christ is the Holy One

1) this means he is totally righteous — he was a man in every respect, but a man who never sinned, so that he could become sin for us on the cross of Calvary

a) that’s almost impossible for us to imagine — a sinless human being

ILLUS It’s hard for us to imagine because sin is our default position — how do you contemplate a life that never had an evil thought, never did the wrong thing, who never, ever disobeyed God, but always delighted God and always delighted in God. Because it’s beyond our scope of understanding many, unfortunately, don’t believe the Jesus was sinless. But take away his sinlessness and he can no longer be the perfect, spotless Lamb of God who takes away sin.

2) but here’s the good news ... he is totally sinless because not only was he totally man, but he is totally God — the express image of the Heavenly Father who is totally holy

a) he is undefiled by sin

4. the Holy One "holds the keys of David"

a. the background for this theme is found in Isaiah 22:22

ILLUS. Eliakim was the chief steward of King Hezekiah’s household. As “keeper of the keys”, he had the master key for the king’s palace. As the representative of the king, he was authorized to exercise full administrative authority in the king's name. Because of his office, he controlled access to the monarch, much like the chief of staff for an American president.

b. the key of David represents God's kingdom

1) the point that Jesus is making is that as the holder of the key of David, Jesus alone has the sovereign authority to determine who enters His messianic kingdom, and who is given access to the Father

2) translation — Jesus saves, not the church, we are just the communicators of the Good News

5. the "Holy One" who "holds the key of David" was the head of the church at Philadelphia

B. JESUS CHRIST HAS OPENED A DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA

1. why is this small, seemingly unimportant church, so praised by its Lord?

a. in these seven verses there is not a hint of disappointment or condemnation

“I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Revelation 3:8, NIV)

b. Jesus tells this congregation, I know that you have little strength

1) apparently the church at Philadelphia was not a big church

a) they didn’t have a lot of resources

b) there probably weren’t a lot of wealthy patrons giving large amounts to the church

c) they didn’t have a Family Life Center with a fitness room or rock climbing wall to attract the community

2) they only had little strength

c. but Jesus does not rebuke them for being small

2. there’s no shortage of open doors, but there is a shortage of Christians that will enter them

“And he [Jesus] said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2, ESV)

ILLUS. Adrian Rogers once told a modern parable. Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Susan Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors. All four belonged to the same congregation, and claimed to be good church members. You judge.

When it came to the Lord’s Day, MR. EVERYBODY went fishing, or slept in, or stayed home to visit with friends. MRS. ANYBODY wanted to worship but was afraid MR. SOMEBODY wouldn’t speak to her. So guess who went to church - NOBODY.

MR. NOBODY was the only consistent one of the four. NOBODY did the visitation. NOBODY worked on the church building. NOBODY volunteered to lead. Once the church needed a Sunday school teacher. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY would do it, and ANYBODY thought SOMEBODY would do it. And you know who did it? That’s exactly right ... NOBODY!

It happened that a new family moved down the street from the church. EVERYBODY thought SOMEBODY should visit them. ANYBODY could have made the effort. You probably know who visited them: NOBODY!

a. this little parable brings to focus again the fact that each of us is personally responsible for God’s work; for the doors God opens in our lives

1) if we leave it for somebody or everybody or anybody, to do the work of the Church, nobody will end up doing it

b. let’s be honest — we’re not a large church

1) we can’t put on big holiday productions like some of the large churches in Jefferson City

2) we don’t have a deaf ministry, or a big counseling ministry

3) we don’t send out and support our own overseas missionaries

c. there are MANY things we CAN’T do; but let’s never forget that there ARE many things we CAN do

1) God has opened and will continue to open doors for us in Linn — are we willing to step through them

ILLUS. It is sad when God opens doors, and we fail to step through them. After World War II had ended Japan was a wide open door to Christian work. General Douglas MacArthur personally issued a call for Churches in America to send 5,000 missionaries through that open door. But we failed to answer that call. To this day, less than 1% of Japan is Christian.

... the Church at Philadelphia Had Little Power, but Big Influence

II. THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA HAD BIG SUCCESS DESPITE GREAT OPPRESSION

1. I worry that the church today has been overly influenced by the world's concepts of success

a. I worry that large segments of the Church in America are more captivated by political power, or financial power, or cultural power ... that these are the things that make for influence and success

2. if some Christians or some Churches put as much energy into winning lost people as they put into some social or economic or political cause our society might be a better place

ILLUS G.K. Chesterton was an early 20th -century English writer, philosopher, Christian apologist, literary and art critic. He was also a devoted Catholic. Chesterton tells the story of an exchange that took place between Francis of Assisi and Pope Innocent III back in the 13th -century. Francis was the Superior of an Abby of monks, who’s mission was to preach the gospel and take care of the sick . On a visit to Rome he requested an audience with Pope Innocent. Innocent proudly showed Francis all the wondrous treasures of the Vatican. Referring to a story in the Biblical Book of Acts in which St. Peter spoke with a beggar in Jerusalem and told him he had no money, the pope pointed to the treasures around him and said, “Peter can no longer say ‘Silver and gold have I none.'” St. Francis responded: “Neither can he say, ‘Rise up and walk.'” (In the Bible account, St. Peter first tells the crippled beggar that he doesn’t have any money, then he takes him by the right hand, tells him to get up and walk, and the man, cured, begins to walk and leap.)

3. Francis’ point was that the triumphal, institutional church of his day was prestigious and wealthy, but it had lost the inner fire and dedication that made Christianity a world-transforming faith

a. now hear my heart — I’m not saying that believers should be culturally or politically unengaged from society

1) there are significant cultural issues that are certainly gospel issues that the Church needs to speak to from a Biblical perspective

b. I am saying that we need to understand where our true power comes from

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28–29, ESV)

A. SUCCESSFUL CHURCHES ARE FAITHFUL TO THE WORD

1. one of the reasons for this congregations success is found in verse eight " ... you have kept my word ..."

a. I am becoming more and more convinced that one of the great weaknesses of the church today grows out of our neglect, and thus our ignorance of, our Scriptures

b. an evangelistic church is a congregation that understands the Scriptures and our Lord's mandate to "go, make disciples"

2. a second reason for this congregations success has to do with its "little power"

a. here was a church which had no recourse but to rely on faith, and prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit

1) the church in the 1st century was relevant and alive and powerful and miraculous, not because it had more clever members than we do, or better-trained leaders, or less to distract it from its commitment

2) but because everything it had was given it by God through Christ

3) everything it did was done through it by the Holy Spirit

4) it saw itself as nothing and having nothing apart from Jesus Christ

3. a third reason for this congregations success was their steadfastness

"I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you." (Revelation 3:9, NIV)

a. in spite of opposition here was a church that maintained its witness in a hostile environment

b. ultimately this congregation will be kept from "the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."

1) this is a difficult verse to completely comprehend

ILLUS. Historically, it may be a reference to the fact that when Muslim Turks swept through the region hundreds of years later that Philadelphia was the very last town to surrender and even after its capitulation remained a strong bastion of Christian witness and influence.

4. these Christians at Philadelphia had a faithful testimony — they followed the word of God

III. THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA TEACHES US SOME BIG LESSONS

A. BE A CHURCH COMMITTED TO IMITATING CHRIST

1. the Holy One expects his Church to imitate his life, to imitate his love, to imitate his heart of service and to imitate his holiness

2. that will open a lot of doors that programs and gimmicks and gadgets wont

B. BE A CHURCH THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OPEN DOORS

1. whether they are open doors for salvation, or open doors of ministry, or open doors of service, one thing is clear ...

a. God is the God who places opportunities in our path

1) in vs. 7 the term an open door should rightly be translated a door having been opened

b. God has already created open doors for each of us and for our church and we need to be willing to walk through them

ILLUS. We go to the store, and we are in such a hurry that we fail to notice the troubled look of hurt on the face of the cashier. We want to get to our car quickly, so we briskly rush past the widow struggling to carry her bag of groceries to her car. A friend calls up with a burden, but we are so busy that we put them off with some pat answers so we can get back to work, or often, so we can get back to watching the TV show we are in the middle of. We value our pleasure and comfort above the needs of others. And as a result, we never see the open doors that God has given us.

2. outreach, evangelism and ministry takes faithfulness and hard work — not gimmicks

a. the Christians at Philadelphia didn’t use the gimmicks, gadgets, promotions, and programs that we are told today are “absolutely essential” by church growth experts

1) they just used the Word of God

ILLUS. John Wesley said, "Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth."

3. there is a growing philosophy among church growth experts that the church must learn how to cater to the wishes of "church shoppers"

a. they tell us that we must learn how to "market" the church to make it more attractive to the person in the street

b. church growth is seen more and more as a business enterprise rather than a combination of the movement of the Holy Spirit and faithful Christian witness

ILLUS. The motto of the “church growth” expert is: “Package it right and they will come.”

c. the problem is that many modern church growth strategies leave out any mention of sensitivity to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and a gospel proclamation

4. I can't help but feel that what the Lord expects from us is commitment and discipleship

C. BE A CHURCH THAT IS FAITHFUL DESPITE OPPOSITION

1. even with the paganism that raged around them, they never wavered from “The Truth,” that is, Jesus Christ

a. as Paul commands, “Be steadfast, unmovable” (I Cor. 15:58)

D. BE A CHURCH WHERE “BROTHERLY LOVE” RULES THE CONGREGATION

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:14-16, NIV)

ILLUS. Charles Wesley, the great Methodist preacher, once said, “Is your heart as my heart? Then give me your hand.”

1. that’s good sound theology for the local church

a. if Jesus is in my heart, and if Jesus is in your heart, then we have common ground for fellowship

2. in Christ — the person of God’s son — there is community

a. there is a beauty in Christian fellowship

b. sometimes there is a burden to Christian fellowship

3. the fellowship of love is something that visitors in church may no be able to explain or define, but they know when it is there and when it is not

a. a person or a family we get up, dress, pass a dozen other churches, and drive all the way across town if he knows that a warm experience awaits and true love prevails

Our church is not big. But let’s learn a lesson from the church at Philadelphia. Even though we have little strength, when we use the little that God has placed into our hands, He is pleased. Consider: David had a sling, Dorcas had a needle, Rahab had a string, Samson had a jawbone, Aaron had a rod, Mary had some ointment, and they all were used for God.

Today, make a commitment that you will look for the open doors that God has given you, and that you will use what God has given you faithfully for His glory.