Access Granted (The Open Door) We Need a Building GIANTS*

Revelation 3:7–13 (KJV 1900)

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue 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. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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 unto the churches.

Bishop and Lady Blake

Pastor Peloris Brooks

Pastor Webb

Bro and Sis Meikle

Min Fyine

Msny Brenda Dodd

Officers, Ministers, Musicians, Ushers Hostess

Radio programs, Prayer Lines

Georgia branch

British Virgin Islands

Cultural/Historical Background

The Door opener’s Authority

Revelation 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

The Door Opener (Key of David) The Sovereignty of God

Who is this one who speaks such uplifting words to this tiny congregation? He is “the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens” (v. 7).

The Angel is the human messenger of God - the pastor of the church

Here in our text the Glorified Jesus reminds the church in Philadelphia that he is The Holy one.

He was holy at his birth -

Luke 1:35 “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

He was holy in His life

And He was holy in his death- He bore our sins, but we know he was Holy because the prophecy came from the old testament:

Psalm 16:10 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”

and he is holy today in his present priestly office

The Philadelphia is encouraged in every situation, to find renewed their strength and re-ignited their passion by reflecting on the beauty of divine holiness. “He, our Lord, is the Holy One!

“To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One,”

or from Isaiah 43:15 where he again proclaims,

“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King”. According to Isaiah 57:15, his very name “is Holy”!

Their boast was not in their property or multiplicity of programs but in the Holy One of Israel!

Second, he is called “the true one”.

-To the Greek mind this would mean “genuine,” or what is real and thus corresponds to reality.

-and To the Hebrew mind it means “faithful” and “trustworthy,” deserving of our confidence, dependable, reliable, consistent and steadfast

Exodus 34:6 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”

2 Timothy 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

God wants the Church in Philadelphia to know that, their trust in God in not in vain! He is who He says He is.

But Third, he is the one “who has the key of David.”

This is an allusion to Isaiah 22:22 and the role of Eliakim, who was steward of the household, who was given authority to control who was either admitted to or excluded from the king’s presence.

And The point is that Jesus alone has the key to the Davidic or messianic kingdom and that he alone has the undisputed authority to admit or exclude from the New Jerusalem.

He alone holds the keys and has the authority to grant access. Thus, the “key of David” implies control of David’s domain, which was promised to the Messiah in both the Old and New Testaments (

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Luke 1:32 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:”

Key- key fob, metal keys, card keys, credit / debit card .

Fourth, and finally, he is the one “who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.” When he opens to his followers the door of the kingdom, no one can shut them out; and when he shuts the door on those who oppose his cause, none can reverse it.

He is the Door opener!

OPEN DOOR

“Behold, I have set before thee an open door.”

“Behold” - Look, eyes, myopic, vision, sight, Can you see it? Eye glasses.

“I” -

“have set” -

“before thee “ -

“an open door” -

ACCESS GRANTED- Locked doors are about to be opened. LOOK!

TENSION: Why? Little Strength

An Open Door (Opportunities)

Revelation 3:8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

One could make a strong case that the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia are the most important of the seven, for in neither of them do we find a single word of complaint. They both receive praise and approval. These, then, are truly churches of which Christ approves.

But I am intrigued by the statement by Jesus in Revelation 3:8 He says, that the church in Philadelphia has “but little strength” (ESV).

Understand that this isn’t a rebuke.but I ’is a commendation!

He describes them as having a little strength, Possibly because of their smallness in size. Or perhaps they lacked the resources.

Jesus isn’t saying that having “little strength” is inherently and always good. He’s simply saying that having “little strength” isn’t inherently and always bad.

Jesus does not say this condemningly. He merely says that’s the way it is during the age of Philadelphia. Thus, it’s not an indictment, but rather an honest assessment of the “last days” church at Philadelphia.

You lack resources, However, In spite of your lack of size and influence, Jesus is saying, you faithfully kept my word and, in the face of persecution and perhaps even martyrdom, refused to deny my name. People threatened you. The culture mocked you. The Jewish community slandered you (cf. v. 9). The temptation to jump ship must have been intense. Yet you stood firm. Your lack of resources, money, and manpower proved no obstacle to your accomplishing great things for the kingdom of God!

It’s reassuring to know that size is not the measure of success.

There is no sin in big size, but neither is there in smallness.

There are temptations in both circumstances.

Those with “little power” can become bitter and resentful of those who outwardly prosper. Those with “great power” can become arrogant and condescending toward those of less stature.

The “mini-church” may be tempted to think they’ve missed the mark or failed to articulate a vision that is pleasing to God. The “mega-church” may point to their sizeable offerings and overflowing crowds as indicative of divine approval. They could both be wrong.

We don’t know if the Christians in Philadelphia were despondent or mired in self doubt. But the fact that Jesus applauds their efforts in spite of their modest dimensions would suggest they needed this word of encouragement. Our Lord’s declaration of what he has and will continue to do on their behalf (see vv. 8–11) is worthy of our close consideration. But first we need to look at his description of himself in v. 7.

I need Thee

It is not that the church still has a little strength and thus can still function to some degree. Rather, the very fact that it has but little strength is itself the source of its power for this means it must depend wholly on the Lord. “My strength is made perfect in weakness,” says the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:9). Neither wealth nor influence, neither promotional schemes nor the eloquence of its pulpit, nor the harmonies of its musicians can give it an effective ministry. The Lord alone has opened the door; the Lord alone “giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7).

What qualifies us for an open door of Access?

If you meet these qualification there are

You may have a little strength but you don’t have little power. Little resources doesn’t necessarily mean little power.

I may have a little strength but i’m not weak. His strength is made perfect in weakness. When I am. Weak I am made strong.

Let the weak say I am strong.

You have kept my word

God knows the flesh does not desire to keep the word of God.

Romans 7:14–25 KJV 1900

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

A Philadelphia-like church, furthermore, keeps God’s Word! The pressures to repudiate His Word, to distort the Word, to dilute the Word, to allegorize the Word, or just to ignore God’s Word, have always been great, and multitudes of believers have compromised their witness throughout the centuries by yielding to these pressures. The modern scene is saturated with innumerable compromise-generating pressures, and most churches today have yielded in one way or another. The Scriptures are filled with warnings: “Keep that which is committed to thy trust” (1 Timothy 6:20); “Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13); “Earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). “Continue in the faith grounded and settled” (Colossians 1:23).

When a church begins to deal loosely with the word of Christ, it will sooner or later deny the name of Christ. The name of a person stands for his character, his position, his work—all that he is and does. The concept of the name of Christ is, therefore, vital. There are at least 125 references to His name, as such, in the New Testament alone.

Samuel said to King Saul- To obey is better than to sacrifice.

Psalms 51 A Broken and a contrite heart will though not despise

Luke 22:42 (KJV 1900)

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

They kept the word

Psalm 119:11 KJV 1900

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.

Nevertheless

Psalm 119

How I love thy precepts…

Psalms 1 “Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

You have not denied my name

Which simply infers, they quite possibly were threatened not to preach or speak in the name.

Acts 4:5–13 (KJV 1900)

And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:16–20 (KJV 1900)

What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

29-31 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

So in public Christians must be neutral on moral issues, not imposing their beliefs on others. But, is the liberal secular view neutral? No they are not, they constantly impose their agenda through every possible medium!

Denominational Christendom has lost its credibility.

It is going to take a truth telling, holy living, devil destroying , Jesus name Apostolic church to provide a credible alternative in this dark environment.

Because you have a little strength, you have kept my word, you have not denied my name. There are three doors that God has set before you, that no man can shut. You need to be aware of these three doors that will help you to overcome in your season of little strength.

Door #1 - THE DOOR OF Pre-Eminence (Victory)

The Grace of God will Give you Victory over your enemies. (Works-Little Strength) FULL ACCESS IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY - They thought that you would go under.

Be still and know that I am God. |God’s love and favor will cause you enemy to be at peace with you.

Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue 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.”

To Smyrna the promise was that “the synagogue of Satan” should not prevail against the faithful in her:

to Philadelphia, that she should even win over some of “the synagogue of Satan” to fall on their faces and confess God is in her of a truth.

This is an instance of how Christ set before her an “open door,” some of her greatest adversaries, the Jews, being brought to the obedience of the faith. Their worshipping before her feet expresses the convert’s willingness to take the very lowest place in the Church, doing servile honor to those whom once they persecuted, rather than dwell with the ungodly.

So the Philippian jailer before Paul.

I will cause your enemies to realize how bless you are. They wont be able to ignore you. Those that are against you will come in alignment with you. And be on the same team with you. (Reference)

Three doors that will become a testimony to your enemies that you are loved of God

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 (KJV 1900)

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Letters in red- My grace is sufficient for thee

Romans 8:35–37 KJV 1900

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Nothing shall separate us (the church) from the love of God!

Door #2 - THE DOOR OF Protection (SHIELD)

I will Keep you from temptation/effects of temptation (Works-Kept Word)

Revelation 3: 10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The god of this world has unleashed his wrath, and has loosed spirits this age in an unprecedented manner.

Spirits of fear

Discouragement and depression

Leads to weariness, hopelessness and spiritual suicide.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Because you keep the word, It will become a shield for you!

Because the word is a weapon and an armor.

Illustration

It is the word that is the sword of the spirit - The word of God

But it is word that becomes a shield also. Because the shield given to us is a shield of Faith. How?

Because

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

So then Faith is a shield that comes from the Word, The Sword is the word. You have no reason to fear when you keep the word

Though will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.

If you keep the word God’s is opending a door for you to be kept from the mess around you.

He will be a refuge and a fortress

He will deliver you from the snare and the Fowler, No evil shall come nigh thy dwelling

If you keep the word,

Psalm 91 (simpler version)

When the Enemy comes in like a flood.

Door # 3 Door of Power (Established, strengthened)

I’ll make you a pillar in the House of God. and write my name upon you (Works-Not Denied My Name) SUPPORT IN ZION-

Revelation 3:12 “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.”

1 Kings 7:21 “And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.”

Solomon’s glorious temple had two pillars at the entrance Called Jachin and Boaz.

Jachin means, “He will establish” (feel like everything in your life is falling apart) When God put you up no one can take you down. (Foundation)

Boaz means, “In Him is Strength” (let the weak say I am strong) Pillar

2 Thess 2:16-17 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

Revelation 3:12 (JFB): only that those pillars were outside, these shall be within the temple.

Revelation 3:12 (KJV 1900): and he shall go no more out:

It is through the open door that you will be established and strengthened. God is going to Shut the door behind you. So you cant escape into weakness, instability and insecurity and insignificance.

New Name

The name of my God indicates that the overcomer belongs to God.

That of the city of my God signifies that he has citizenship rights in the new Jerusalem (cf. Gal. 4:26; Heb. 11:10; 12:22; 13:14).

My new name possibly refers to the new state of affairs brought about by the consummation of redemption.

Then Christ appears in a character in which he could not appear until this consummation was reached.

The people of Philadelphia would appreciate references to a new name more than most. While the name Philadelphia persisted, twice the city had received a new name: that of Neocaesarea, as a sign of gratitude for Tiberius’s help in rebuilding after the earthquake, and later Flavia, after the family name of the emperor Vespasian.

Revelation 3:8 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”

In closing (My Time is Up)- It’s Already done !!! The Door has already been opened. ALTAR Call:Walk Through The Open Door

Revelation 3:13 (KJV 1900): 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Before you go you need to know, God’s already done it.

All you need to do is to get up and walk through the door.

No man can shut it…It’s going to stay open until you find the door.

Called to step out in

boldness

Faith

Confidence- he that began a good work in you

no fear

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He giveth power to the faint; And to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall: 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.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Revelation 3:7–13 (KJV 1900)

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue 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. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 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 unto the churches.

Heaven

Heaven sounding sweeter all the time

What a day that will be

When we all get to Heaven

We are all going up in the first resurrection

Heaven is better than this

I got my mansion way over

Jesus gone to prepare a mansion for me

When I see Jesus amen

I’m gonna walk those streets of glory by and by

By and by when the morning comes when all the saints

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