Philadelphia
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7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of 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.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Context:
Philly was not like our Philly.
What is significant about our Philly? (ask)
Hints: Benjamin Franklin lived and worked there, Rocky, Fresh Prince, Philly Steak sandwiches, Liberty Bell
Theres was a small agricultural driven city. It was on a fault line so it was a little dangerous to live there sometimes. There was not a lot going on.
It had people and they were usually born and raised there.
But no one that was anybody wanted to live in this Philly.
No one even wants to escavate their remains under the city now. Wow.
This sets the tone for the church there as well. The church would have been even more insignificant in the worlds eyes.
We dont really know what the conflict was between the christians and the jews at the synagogue, but we do not historically there was friction between these groups. Sometimes they would have to meet on their own, but sometimes they would meet near or in the synagogue.
Here’s a few things that we are going to take away.
1. Religion is important (james 1:27), but religious things without faith in Christ is what worthless.
1. Religion is important (james 1:27), but religious things without faith in Christ is what worthless.
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
These types of passages are not to make us throw away religion. There’s always things that a church should probably quit doing that are not kingdom work, but we can’t just throw away religion for a sole relationship with Jesus. That’s not what the Bible teaches.
Actually much of the learning and discipline we learn is by getting along in church with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
SO whats going on here?
Theses Jews thought they were in with God and they thought they were pleasing God. Yet they were wrong.
Makes me think of Romans 9:6-9
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”
So there is a sense in which someone can be religious yet not in the family of God.
There’s obvious ones here - people that think just being spiritual will connect them with God.
Or that any religion leads to the same God.
There’s also less obvious ones.
Are you playing make-believe? Like little children pretending to be at church.
Is that what your faith amounts to? Going to church?
Or do you have faith?
Do you believe the Bible, so much, that you are staking your life and reputation on it?
Do you make your decisions in life based on what the Bible says or what God wants you to do?
DO YOU CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN, YET HAVE NO FAITH?
2. one of the most powerful things you can do is keep God’s word and not deny his name.
2. one of the most powerful things you can do is keep God’s word and not deny his name.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
God calls some people to do great and mighty things. If he does, be obedient.
But that is not everyone’s calling.
Some of us are like the little town of Philly, just quietly working behind the scenes. Doing what we do.
So what do you do?
it is very important that you stay obedient to Jesus.
This is where your power comes from to handle anything in life.
Temptation, Hard times, Friendships, Everything.
3. Although different for everyone, Jesus sets the time limits for your suffering.
3. Although different for everyone, Jesus sets the time limits for your suffering.
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of 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.
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
It may be short, it may be long, but it is not forever because Jesus has the power to shut doors and open them.
Illustration:
Makes me think of running time at practice. Every sport needs you in shape. The only way to get in shape is to run. You go into that time not knowing how long or how hard it will be. You just focus on finishing. But the coach has a plan. He knows when he wants to start and finish.
From my notes:
Nothing happens outside of the control of Jesus. Things may get bad, but they do not surprise Jesus and he has allowed it to happen and he will stop it at some point.
Because he is good and can be trusted, he does know the gravity of the situation. He is not flippantly allowing this to go on. There is a reason and a purpose. It does matter.
And He will make it right in the end.
4. Hold Fast.
4. Hold Fast.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
be known for the being the person that can survive junk and yet still give God the glory.
The temptation is that to be known as someone that handles things that you need to be known as the person that makes a scene if needed to handle a situation.
Your childish if you let things go, but if you want to act grown, then you get louder until its handled.
There is a time in life to speak up, but thats not what King Jesus wants you to have a reputation of:
In his eyes, grown folks can suffer.
They do not let go
They do not lose faith
They just quietly and boldly go through the hard stuff
Exegete
Exegete
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of 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.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of 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.
John is bringing the heat this time. Not only does it say These words are from the true and holy one, but but this same one has the power to shut or open things that no one can close or open.
Nothing happens outside of the control of Jesus. Things may get bad, but they do not surprise Jesus and he has allowed it to happen and he will stop it at some point.
Because he is good and can be trusted, he does know the gravity of the situation. He is not flipantly allowing this to go on. There is a reason and a purpose. It does matter.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
We are starting the same way as last week. The ONE knows your works. He can see right through any fake face or message that you put up for everyone to see.
Im not sure what this door is that God has set open.
Unlike last week, Jesus knows their works, yet compliments them. This is a different tone than last week.
They have kept his word and not denied his name. Boldness for Christ is not always about being the loudest. God wants us to be heralds for him, but more so, he wants us to be faithful to him.
Christ-centered commentary says that it doesnt m
9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
Is this a different synagogue or the Jewish synagogue in town?
These people must think they are very close to God, but we see God, Jesus, here saying NOPE.
seems that we are talking about the local Jewish Synagogue in town.
brings back the words of Paul in Romans 9 that not all Jews are jews
6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.”
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
This sounds like a reference to the Tribulation.
If not, what is the alternative explanation?
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Stay strong, hold on. The message of Revelation.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
What a promise to those who endure.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
If you can, listen up. Same ending as others.